Sponsored Content | Presented by the American Chemistry Council
Most Americans probably don’t think about chemistry when they turn on the lights, brush their teeth, drive to work, or use their phones. But chemistry is behind many of the products and technologies people rely on every day—and nearly everything manufactured in the United States begins with chemistry.
That is why Chris Jahn, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, says Americans should be paying attention to the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA.
“We like to say that it’s the law that no one knows about, but that they should,” Jahn told the Washington Examiner.
TSCA governs chemical manufacturing in the United States, but Jahn argues that problems with its implementation are slowing innovation and affecting the broader American manufacturing supply chain.
The Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to review new chemicals within 90 days, according to Jahn, but he said reviews currently take more than a year on average, with hundreds of chemistries awaiting action. Those delays can affect industries ranging from automobiles and energy to healthcare and artificial intelligence.
Jahn pointed to an ACC member developing liquid-cooling technology for advanced AI chips. He said the company decided to manufacture the technology in France because it could not rely on receiving timely EPA approval in the United States.
Congress now faces a Sept. 30 deadline, when authorization for industry fees that Jahn said provide roughly 25% of the program’s funding is set to expire. Without action, he warned that existing delays could worsen.
Lawmakers from both parties are discussing potential changes to TSCA, including proposals addressing review timelines, scientific standards, and how real-world chemical uses are evaluated.
For Jahn, the debate is ultimately about more than chemical regulation. It is about whether the United States can continue attracting the investment and innovation needed to compete globally.
“Competitiveness is not a given,” Jahn said. “We actually have to have the process, the science, to back that up.”
This content was produced in partnership with the American Chemistry Council.