June 22, 2016

Manchin Applauds Signing of Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety For the 21st Century Act Into Law

Washington, D.C. – As a lead cosponsor and a staunch advocate of chemical safety reforms, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) attended the signing ceremony of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act at the White House today. This law will ensure the safety of the chemicals Americans use every day by updating the United States’ outdated chemical regulatory program.

 “I’m pleased the President signed this much needed legislation to modernize our severely outdated chemical regulatory system into law today. This bill will go a long way in ensuring the chemicals we encounter in our everyday lives are safe and properly managed,” Senator Manchin said. “After the 2014 Elk River chemical spill, I vowed to do everything in my power to ensure a similar accident would never occur again. This is an important step in that direction and it is a testament to the remarkable work Congress can do when we prioritize solutions over partisanship and commit ourselves to finding commonsense solutions.”

 “I know my friend, the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, would be thrilled with the President’s signing today. He dedicated his life and career to protecting public health and updating America’s chemical safety laws. Without his leadership and commitment, this legislation would not be possible.”

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is the result of a bipartisan agreement that Senator Manchin helped mediate after over two years of deliberations and negotiations. Lawmakers, stakeholders, and affected community leaders helped craft this groundbreaking legislation that would ensure the Environmental Protection Agency safely oversees consumer products to better protect American families. The legislation would create a predictable and transparent federal system to regulate the safety of chemicals based on the latest science, provide greater regulatory certainty to the chemical manufacturing industry and strike a balance between state and federal roles in chemical safety management. 

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