Bills · HR 123
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 123Environmental assessment, monitoring, researchResearch administration and funding
Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
7MIN
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- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it fundamentally alters the way the U.S. government determines the safety of chemicals, which has direct implications for public health and environmental protection. If this bill becomes law, the process for assessing chemical hazards will become more decentralized, with individual EPA program offices taking the lead. Supporters believe this could make assessments more directly relevant to the regulatory needs of specific programs and potentially more efficient by avoiding backlogs in a centralized system.
However, critics might raise concerns about the potential for inconsistent scientific standards across different offices or a fragmentation of expertise that was previously consolidated in the IRIS program. The shift could impact how quickly new chemicals are assessed, how existing chemicals are re-evaluated, and ultimately, the regulations put in place to protect people from harmful substances. Voters should care because the methodology for assessing chemical risks underpins many health and safety standards that impact their daily lives, from air and water quality to consumer products.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Transfers chemical hazard and dose-response assessments from the central Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program to relevant EPA program offices.
This shifts who within EPA is responsible for determining chemical risks, potentially changing the focus and consistency of assessments.
PROVISION 02
Requires chemical assessments to be carried out using new scientific standards (specified in Section 7B, though details of 7B are not provided in this excerpt) and based on the 'weight of the scientific evidence.'
This aims to ensure scientific rigor and consistency in how chemical risks are evaluated across different EPA offices.
PROVISION 03
Mandates that toxicity values assigned to chemicals include a range of risk estimates and detail the sources and magnitudes of uncertainty.
This provides a more nuanced understanding of chemical risks, acknowledging the complexities and unknowns in scientific data.
PROVISION 04
Establishes a chemical assessment database maintained by the Office of Research and Development to store all toxicity values and assessments.
This ensures a central, updated repository for all chemical safety data, improving accessibility and consistency of information.
PROVISION 05
Creates a Hazard Identification and Dose-Response Steering Committee to coordinate assessments and prevent duplication of efforts among program offices.
This is intended to improve efficiency and avoid redundant work when multiple EPA offices might need to assess the same chemical.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
R· Arizona
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
110
ACTION TIMELINE
4 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 123
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House BillHR 123Environmental assessment, monitoring, researchResearch administration and funding
Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
7 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
