Federal
HR 123 Would Change How the EPA Reviews the Safety of Chemicals
The Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act (HR 123) is a federal bill that would alter the process the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses when conducting scientific assessments of chemicals. The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and on Energy and Commerce for consideration. No further legislative action has been reported.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Updating the scientific standards EPA uses could lead to more accurate and reliable determinations about whether chemicals are safe or harmful.
- Clearer or more rigorous assessment procedures could make the EPA's chemical review process more transparent and easier for the public to understand.
- Reforms to the assessment process could help ensure that decisions affecting public health are grounded in the best available science.
- Improved scientific processes could give businesses and researchers more predictability about how chemicals will be evaluated by regulators.
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- Changes to the EPA's assessment process could slow down or complicate existing chemical safety reviews, potentially delaying protections for the public.
- New scientific standards could be designed in ways that make it harder for the EPA to identify or act on chemical risks, weakening health safeguards.
- Altering the review process could create uncertainty for ongoing assessments and require significant resources to implement new procedures.
- Without full details of the bill's provisions, there is a risk that reforms could favor industry interests over public health or environmental protections.
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