Washington, DC – Congressional negotiators have agreed to a historic deal to modernize the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act. Today’s agreement paves the way for the House and Senate to make final improvements and pass the bill to President Obama’s desk.

Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation said today: 

“Today's bipartisan announcement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve protections of public health and the environment for Americans and for the wildlife we love. The National Wildlife Federation has worked hard to strengthen and pass this legislation which improves on existing law and we’re confident it addresses many of our long-standing wildlife and public health concerns, while also setting up transparent and predictable chemical evaluation processes for industry. 

“In an era marked by partisan gridlock, we are proud that Republicans and Democrats came together to achieve real, meaningful progress to strengthen chemical safety and protect both fish and wildlife and the sportsmen and women who depend on them. This bipartisan compromise moves us one step closer towards ensuring safe and healthy wildlife across our nation and we urge all members of Congress to support it.

“Several members in particular deserve credit for their leadership in moving this bipartisan legislation toward the finish line, including Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), David Vitter (R-LA) and Edward Markey (D-MA); James Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the Environment and the Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”