Signed by President Barack Obama on June 22, 2016, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act for the 21st Century amends the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, expanding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s authority to protect the public from harmful chemicals (citation https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act-0). The Act mandates the EPA to examine chemicals with enforceable deadlines, created a risk-based safety standard, provides for more openness for chemical data, and provides a steady source of funding for the EPA to implement these new obligations under the Act. (citation https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act).
Background History
Since the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, the EPA has been able to restrict five chemicals and has prevented four chemicals from going to market. This is a very small portion of the 23,000 new chemical manufactured since 1976. TSCA did not require the EPA to review new and existing chemicals and regulate them based on the impact that they would have on individuals most at risk (including infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and chemical industry workers).