Senator Husted on Accelerating Chemical Reviews for US Competitiveness

The Cost of Slow Environmental Reviews

• ⏱️ Time is money in business, and lengthy approval processes for new products can deter manufacturers.
• 🌏 Companies may choose to develop products in countries like China or India if the American system is too slow, despite lower environmental standards abroad.
• 💡 Innovation is crucial for developing new products and processes, but requires timely approvals to be viable for businesses.

Balancing Innovation and Environmental Standards

• 🧪 Chemistry has led to numerous advances that improve human flourishing and quality of life, though negative aspects often receive more focus.
• ♻️ Challenges exist in balancing goals, such as creating more durable tires for heavier vehicles while also ensuring they can be recycled.
• 🌍 The world is innovating and becoming cleaner, and the US needs to keep pace with quicker and better standards.

EPA Prioritization and Resources

• 💰 The EPA's budget should be assessed for its focus on innovation versus addressing existing problems.
• ⚖️ There's a need for legislation that continuously updates standards and prioritizes new chemistries.
• 🏭 The industry faces challenges with regulations like those for methylene chloride, where toxic chemicals are still in use despite available substitutes.

Regulation as an Innovation Driver

• 🔬 While industry innovates, the EPA should set the bar with regulations based on the best available science, rather than dictating innovations.
• 🚗 The Clean Air Act is cited as a model where regulations led to innovation, such as catalytic converters and lead-free gasoline.
• 🇺🇸 The US can perform innovation in an environmentally responsible way better than its competitors, but speed to market is critical for American competitiveness.