WASHINGTON – The National Association of Manufacturers contends the proposed Toxic Chemicals Safety Act bill hurts manufacturers’ ability to innovate and remain competitive.

“It dramatically expands the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority over every sector of our nation’s economy, sets unrealistic standards and timeframes, and puts unnecessary burdens on manufacturers with new and inconsistent statutory requirements,” vice president for energy and resources policy Keith McCoy said in a statement.

He said the bill will upset the tenuous relationship between manufacturers and regulators.

“Manufacturers support a US chemical regulatory and management system that is risk-based and uses the best science to ensure chemicals are safe for their intended use. We believe federal regulation should protect human health and the environment, promote innovation, restore public confidence, and avoid unnecessarily adverse economic impacts on small and large businesses.

“If enacted, this bill will create even more uncertainty for manufacturers and will hurt their ability to create jobs and grow our economy at a critical time in our nation. Manufacturers will continue to work with Congress to achieve meaningful reform of our chemical regulatory system, which is not overbearing and cumbersome to manufacturers.”