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NASF REPORT Senate Holds Landmark Hearing on Federal Chemicals Law Reform The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a day-long hearing on July 31 that featured 19 witnesses testifying on ways to strengthen federal safeguards against chemicals that pose threats to public health or the environment. The hearing largely focused on two bills to modernize the federal chemical management statute, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013 (S. 696) and the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009). The Safe Chemicals Act of The hearing largely 2013 was introfocused on two bills to duced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand modernize the federal (D-N.Y.) and the chemical management late Sen. Frank statute, Toxic Substances Lautenberg (D-N.J.) in April with 26 Control Act (TSCA): Democratic and the Safe Chemicals Act two Independent of 2013 (S. 696) and co-sponsors. The Chemical Safety the Chemical Safety Improvement Act Improvement Act was a bipartisan bill (S. 1009). introduced by Sen. Lautenberg and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) in May with 25 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors. Chemical manufacturers have supported passage of this act. Chair of the Senate EPW Committee, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), began the hearing by noting she fully supported S. 696 because it was based on the principle of "protecting people from harmful chemicals." She added that she could support a bipartisan bill to update the TSCA statute if it was revised to protect states rights, includes deadlines for federal action, ensures that parties harmed by chemicals can sue, and specifcally protects vulnerable populations, including children. Throughout the hearing, Sen. Vitter said his aim is to distinguish between two categories of problems raised by various witnesses—misinterpretations or actual distortions of S. 1009 and legitimate suggestions for revisions. While expressing concerns about the bipartisan S. 1009, Daniel Rosenberg, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council who was among the witnesses, identifed ways to improve the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. He was joined by several witnesses in expressing the belief that the current eforts signal that many members believe New Leadership at EPA Congress confirms Gina McCarthy as administrator. After months of debate, the Senate confrmed Gina McCarthy as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She was sworn in as administrator on July 19, and vowed to pursue "smart, commonsense, pragmatic solutions" to environmental problems as EPA's new chief and to continue the work of her predecessor, Lisa Jackson. In her inaugural address to EPA staf on July 23, McCarthy stated that "we have a clear responsibility to act now on 12 SEPTEMBER 2013 — pfonline.com climate change." She added that EPA "has the courage to act" to address climate change as "President Obama has called on us and the American people [to do] so that we protect future generations." In addition to climate change, McCarthy said EPA will address aging water infrastructure systems and will update its chemical safety regulations "so industry has a clear, fair set of rules." The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has also approved three nominees for positions at the EPA, including Kenneth Kopocis, assistant administrator for water; James Jones, assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention; and Avi Garbow, general counsel. Janet McCabe, the acting assistant administrator for air and radiation, has also been slated to replace McCarthy as the assistant administrator for air and radiation.