HR 123 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act

Latest updateJan 3, 2025

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.

Environmental Protection

Sponsor

Andy Biggs

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

The Environmental Protection Agency currently conducts chemical toxicity assessments through its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program, a centralized office that evaluates the health risks posed by chemical substances. This program has operated as the primary mechanism for generating hazard identification and dose-response assessments—scientific evaluations of how chemicals affect human health at different exposure levels. These assessments inform EPA regulatory decisions across multiple program areas, from water quality to air pollution to chemical safety.

The Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act redirects this responsibility by requiring the EPA's program offices—including the Office of Water, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Land and Emergency Management, and Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention—to conduct covered assessments themselves rather than relying on the centralized IRIS program. The bill requires these assessments to follow specified scientific standards emphasizing best available science, transparency in methodology, characterization of uncertainty, and consideration of all available data. The EPA Administrator must also establish a steering committee within 30 days to coordinate assessments across program offices and prevent duplication of effort, with the committee chaired by the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development.

Implementation begins immediately upon enactment. All existing IRIS assessments remain in a new chemical assessment database maintained by the Office of Research and Development, which will be updated as program offices complete new assessments. Beginning two years after enactment and every two years thereafter, the Office of Research and Development must certify to Congress that all completed assessments followed the required scientific standards. The bill does not specify new funding but requires coordination of existing research and development appropriations with program office priorities. This restructuring shifts assessment authority from a single specialized office to multiple program offices, potentially accelerating assessments aligned with specific regulatory programs while requiring new coordination mechanisms to avoid duplicative work.

Key Provisions

1Requires the EPA's program offices to conduct chemical hazard identification and dose-response assessments instead of the centralized Integrated Risk Information System program, beginning immediately upon enactment.
2Directs the EPA Administrator to establish a steering committee within 30 days to coordinate assessments across program offices and prevent duplication of effort, composed of 15 full-time EPA employees representing each relevant program office and regional office.
3Mandates that all covered assessments follow specified scientific standards emphasizing best available science, transparency, uncertainty characterization, and consideration of all available data, with toxicity values assigned when scientifically supported.
4Requires the Office of Research and Development to maintain a chemical assessment database incorporating all existing IRIS assessments and updates from program office assessments, with biennial certification to Congress that assessments meet required scientific standards.
5Authorizes the steering committee to consider third-party assessments from other federal, state, or international agencies or the scientific community that meet specified scientific standards and have undergone independent peer review.

★ Why this matters

Chemical toxicity assessments directly inform EPA regulations affecting drinking water standards, air quality limits, and chemical safety requirements. Shifting assessment responsibility from a centralized program to multiple EPA offices could accelerate assessments aligned with specific regulatory priorities but may create inconsistencies in methodology or duplicate efforts. The new steering committee and scientific standards aim to maintain quality and coordination, but implementation effectiveness depends on how program offices prioritize and resource these assessments.

● Who this affects

EPA program offices and the Office of Research and Development, which must restructure assessment workflows and establish new coordination mechanisms. Chemical manufacturers and industrial facilities subject to EPA regulations, whose compliance obligations may shift as assessments move to different offices. Environmental and public health advocates who rely on EPA chemical assessments for advocacy and litigation. State environmental agencies that use EPA assessments to inform their own chemical regulations. Academic researchers and scientific consultants who may be engaged to support program office assessments or serve on the steering committee.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 123

    To direct that certain assessments with respect to toxicity of 
 chemicals be carried out by the program offices of the Environmental 
               Protection Agency, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was 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

                                 A BILL

 
    To direct that certain assessments with respect to toxicity of 
 chemicals be carried out by the program offices of the Environmental 
               Protection Agency, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Science in Chemical 
Assessments Act''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF EPA PROGRAM OFFICES.

    The Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration 
Authorization Act of 1978 is amended by striking section 7 (42 U.S.C. 
4364) and inserting the following new sections:

``SEC. 7. RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF EPA PROGRAM OFFICES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency shall assure that the expenditure of any funds 
appropriated pursuant to this Act or any other provision of law for 
environmental research and development related to regulatory program 
activities shall be coordinated with and reflect the research needs and 
priorities of the relevant program offices, as well as the overall 
research needs and priorities of the Agency, including those defined in 
the five-year research plan.
    ``(b) Hazard Identification and Dose-Response Assessments.--
Beginning on the date of the enactment of the Improving Science in 
Chemical Assessments Act, any covered assessments carried out with 
respect to a chemical substance through the Integrated Risk Information 
System program of the Environmental Protection Agency as of the day 
before such date of enactment shall, in lieu of being carried out 
through such program, be carried out by the relevant program office of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, so long as the relevant program 
office determines there is a need for such an assessment. Such an 
assessment shall be carried out using the scientific standards 
specified in section 7B and be based on the weight of the scientific 
evidence.
    ``(c) Toxicity Values.--In carrying out a covered assessment with 
respect to a chemical substance under subsection (b), the relevant 
program office shall assign a toxicity value or values, when 
scientific…

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Brendan Boyle

D-Pennsylvania · District 2

No position

The public record does not contain any explicit statements about the 'Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act.' While the content shows Rep. Boyle's general positions on health care, environment, and federal funding for scientific research (evidenced by his work on lung cancer research and securing funding for Temple University programs), there is insufficient specific information about his stance on chemical assessment policy. His party affiliation (Democrat) and demonstrated support for scientific research and health initiatives suggest he may lean toward support for improved chemical safety assessments, but this is speculative without direct evidence of his position on this particular bill.

Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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Republican Party

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