The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of the 'Essential Chemistry for America' initiative, aimed at protecting fluorochemistries and addressing threats to their availability [3a5f324b]. The campaign seeks to educate policymakers and business leaders about the critical role of fluorochemistries in various sectors of the U.S. economy, including automotive, semiconductors, data centers, defense, renewable energy, and healthcare. The Chamber emphasizes the importance of differentiating between various types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and tailoring regulatory approaches accordingly [3a5f324b].
The 'Essential Chemistry for America' initiative is concerned about the potential negative impact of overly broad regulatory approaches that could restrict access to innovative fluorochemistries. The Chamber advocates for sound, science-based regulations and policies that balance environmental protection with the need for continued access to modern fluorochemistries [3a5f324b].
This initiative aligns with the concerns raised by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) regarding the regulatory proposals coming out of federal agencies. The ACC has highlighted the potential consequences of excessive regulations on the chemical industry's ability to produce necessary products and innovations. They have urged President Biden to establish an Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) to conduct an economic impact analysis of regulations on the chemical industry and the broader economy [8d1b5d73].
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) welcomes the bipartisan introduction of the “Regulatory Early Notice and Engagement Act” by Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Representative Don Davis (D-NC), and Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN). The bill’s legislative language is taken directly from Executive Order 12866, which has been in place since 1993 and adopted by presidents of both major political parties to improve the regulatory review process. The bill would require federal agencies to make public and send to Congress a regulatory early notice within one week after initiating a new rulemaking activity. The notice must identify the problem the rule is intended to address, state whether the rule is required by law, necessary to interpret law, or made necessary to address a compelling public need, and state whether existing regulations or other laws have contributed to the problem. The bill would also require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to develop and maintain a database of regulatory early notices and report to Congress on agency compliance with the Act. The ACC believes that overregulating the chemistry industry jeopardizes innovation, jobs, and economic growth. They argue that the bill can help restore order through more vigorous congressional oversight of federal agencies [7ff414f8].
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 'Essential Chemistry for America' initiative aims to protect fluorochemistries and ensure their availability in critical sectors of the U.S. economy. By advocating for science-based regulations and policies, the Chamber seeks to strike a balance between environmental protection and the need for continued access to innovative fluorochemistries [3a5f324b].