Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Gary Palmer have announced a legislative hearing to discuss potential reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The hearing, titled “Chemicals in Commerce: Legislative Proposal to Modernize America’s Chemical Safety Law, Strengthen Critical Supply Chains, and Grow Domestic Manufacturing,” is scheduled for January 22, 2026. Guthrie and Palmer said that their committee has been working on targeted reforms aimed at increasing accountability and supporting domestic manufacturing while ensuring community health and safety.
The hearing will be held at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and will be open to the public. It will also be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. During this session, various bills including a discussion draft of legislation to modernize TSCA will be reviewed.
Dr. Tracey J. Woodruff from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center expressed concerns about the proposed changes. She argued that these amendments could weaken public health protections by undermining the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate harmful chemicals effectively. Dr. Woodruff highlighted that toxic chemicals are pervasive in everyday environments and pose significant health risks such as cancer and neurological diseases.
She emphasized that since its establishment, TSCA has been essential in protecting Americans from chemical hazards but acknowledged past shortcomings that led to its amendment in 2016. According to Dr. Woodruff, these new proposals could reverse recent improvements by making it harder for the EPA to gather necessary data and regulate existing chemical exposures.
The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center is known for its contributions to medical research and education since its founding in 1907.
