Chemistry in in Session! – January 2024
January 22, 2024
| Dear Chemistry Advocates, A new year always brings a fresh set of goals, and this year, we’re expecting the world of chemistry to face new legislative challenges. Many state legislatures are back in session starting in the month of January. Did you know that 45 out of 50 states have legislative sessions that have already begun? Click here for a state legislative calendar for 2024.   Advancing Local Air Monitoring Efforts In 2019, ACC’s foundation awarded a $1 million grant to Harris County, Texas, to develop a community air quality monitoring initiative, including deployment of new equipment and protocols to support the county’s local Community Air Monitoring Program. Through this grant, Harris County expanded its state-of-the-art monitoring system that included mobile and stationary monitors to continuously track and evaluate air quality. Chemical companies and product manufacturers also are investing in community air monitoring. For example, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV), a joint venture between ExxonMobil and SABIC, has partnered with the University of Texas at Austin to support community monitoring in the Gregory-Portland area of Texas since 2020, with stations placed at different campuses within the local school district. From 2019 to 2023, ROCKWOOL , based in Jefferson County, W.Va., also funded an ambient air monitoring program based at schools that shared data on an online dashboard.   Apply NOW for a $40,000 College Scholarship. FOSSI is a national chemical industry-wide scholarship program which provides students $40,000 scholarships and connects them to leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities in their field of study. The application period is STILL OPEN through January 31, 2024. Learn more: About FOSSI Apply Here MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Rep. Julia Letlow visited the USALCO site in Bastrop, LA, this month and participated in a tour of the facility led by plant manager Shena Hudson. After graduating from nearby Bastrop High School, Shena began working as an administrative assistant at the Bastrop site. Throughout her tenure in Bastrop, Shena worked her way into management and put herself through school to get an accounting degree. In September of 2022, Shena was officially named plant manager of USALCO’s Bastrop facility, overseeing 37 employees and millions of dollars of new investment and clean-up of the site. Congratulations to Shena for your dedication to supporting clean drinking water and improving the lives of others through chemistry!    NEW Survey on Impact of Rising Regulations on Chemical Manufacturing & American Priorities The American Chemistry Council (ACC) recently released the results from a new survey on the ballooning regulatory burden on chemical manufacturers in the United States and its harmful impact on achieving the Biden Administration’s national priorities. In addition to undercutting national priorities, companies reported that the growing number of regulations is negatively impacting expansion in the U.S. and could lead to a decrease in hiring, spending on capital replacement and investing in research and development. According to the new survey, 86% of responding chemical manufacturers said the overall level of regulatory burden has risen, particularly at the federal level, and they expect the volume of new regulations to rise even further across all levels of government a year from now. Fifty-eight chemical producers participated in the survey and 38% of survey participants are classified as “small businesses.” Read the Survey Here CONNECT WITH CHEMISTRY Weekly Chemistry and Economic Trends (January 26, 2024) ACC Welcomes New Policy Changes to Improve Freight Rail Service ACC to EPA: Let’s Turn TSCA Promises Into Measurable Results ACC’s High Phthalates Panel Statement on Misleading Claims Regarding Food Contact Materials and Phthalates New Survey Finds Dramatic Rise in Regulations Undercuts American Manufacturing and National Priorities ACC Applauds Action on Business Tax Credits, Urges House and Senate Approval |