Policy Archives

SOCMA Encourages Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor H.R. 8204 in Industry Coalition Letter

Congressmen Don Davis, Guy Reschenthaler, and Tim Burchett introduced H.R. 8204, bipartisan legislation aimed at enhancing transparency and public engagement in the regulatory process.

June 14, 2024

SOCMA Guidance Document: Methylene Chloride Risk Management Rule

This members-only document is an overview of EPA’s final Risk Management Rule for Methylene Chloride. The downloadable guidance document focuses on the impact to chemical manufacturing facilities.

May 29, 2024

OSHA Releases Long-Awaited Updates to Hazard Communication Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its final rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The HCS ensures chemical safety in the workplace by requiring manufacturers to provide information about hazardous chemicals through labels, safety data sheets, and training to employees. The final rule becomes effective July 19, 2024.

May 20, 2024

USTR Releases Much-Anticipated 301 Report, Fails to Reinstate Exemptions Process

SOCMA is disappointed that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will not reinstate an exclusion process for chemicals imported from China that are currently subject to a surtax under the Section 301 investigation of China.

May 16, 2024

SOCMA Praises Legislation to Reauthorize Key Trade Program

SOCMA strongly supports the introduction of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Reform Act by Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) with nearly 20 cosponsors, including 17 Ways and Means Committee members. SOCMA has been advocating for MTB reauthorization since 2020 and focused on educating congressional offices on the Ways and Means Committee.

May 15, 2024

SOCMA Ramps Up Advocacy Efforts on EPA’s RMP Rule

SOCMA commends the House Energy & Commerce Committee for holding a hearing earlier this week on EPA’s recently finalized Risk Management Program (RMP) rule. We are pleased that Members of Congress took action based on the educational efforts of SOCMA’s Advocacy Committee and publicly turned their attention to the overly prescriptive program, which creates security vulnerabilities and diverts resources from critical security, safety, and process improvements.

May 10, 2024

EPA Releases Methylene Chloride (MCL) Risk Management Final Rule

Today, EPA released a pre-publication of the risk management final rule for Methylene Chloride Regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). While the proposed rule set out to ban almost all uses of methylene chloride, SOCMA was successful in winning allowances for several conditions of use that are critical for SOCMA members.

April 30, 2024

SOCMA Government Relations Update: Trade & Supply Chain

Last week, the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees held hearings on “The Administration’s 2024 Trade Priorities”, where US Trade Representative Katherine Tai appeared as a witness to discuss the President’s stances on current and potential trade programs.

April 25, 2024

SOCMA Supports the Passage of Legislation out of the House Ways and Means Committee to Reauthorize GSP

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) commends Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02) for his proactive stance in introducing the Congressional Review Act Resolution aimed at overturning the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Proposed Risk Management Program (RMP) Rule.

April 18, 2024

Public Statement: EPA Risk Management Program Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a Risk Management Program (RMP) rule that will further impede job creation, industry growth, reshoring of manufacturing, and securing the supply chain with a rule that lacks justifiable improvements to prevention of accidental releases.

March 1, 2024

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