"Scientists and health advocates say proposed changes to a key US chemicals safety law would upend protections for children and other vulnerable populations suffering from toxic exposures, while industry leaders argue the changes would help them get new chemicals to market without sacrificing safety.

The debate comes as the US Senate on Thursday released a draft discussion bill that critics say would gut the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), allowing more dangerous chemicals onto the market  with less oversight from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on March 4 to examine the discussion draft.

The move comes on the heels of a similar House proposal released last month, which was followed by a contentious hearing that showed the rift between Democrat and Republican lawmakers.

“Children’s health must come first, yet the chemical industry is now lobbying to weaken the chemical law that protects our families,”  the Alliance for Health and Safe Chemicals, a coalition of public health groups, said in a statement. “Rolling back chemical safety protections will make it harder to keep toxic chemicals linked to cancer, learning disabilities, and infertility out of our lives.”"

Shannon Kelleher reports for The New Lede February 27, 2026. [2]