BETHESDA, MD – The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) recently conveyed a message to the staffs of Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Christopher Coons (D-DE) stating that the U.S. Senate should find a bipartisan solution to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The meetings were part of an effort by American Alliance for Innovation (AAI), a broad-based coalition association interested in chemicals management policy as regulated by TSCA, to educate legislators about the importance of legislation keeping pace with advances in science and technology. ASC is a charter member of AAI. 

In its discussions with both offices, the council emphasized that the complexity of TSCA will require that all concerned parties find common ground in modernizing legislation, and that it is critical to do this in a timely manner in order to preempt efforts by states and local municipalities to introduce their own chemical regulatory efforts. 

ASC also pointed out that in any modernized TSCA legislation, intellectual property must remain protected. American manufacturers are continually seeking to develop new products through expensive R&D efforts, which could be stifled unless confidential business information remains protected.