U.S. Senate forms chemistry caucus

Abstract

Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate last week launched a new caucus dedicated to spotlighting the role of the chemistry enterprise in the U.S. economy. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.) cosponsored the caucus. Lending support for the caucus are the American Chemical Society, which publishes C&EN, and two industry groups: the American Chemistry Council and the National Association of Chemical Distributors. In addition to the cosponsors, the caucus includes Sens. John N. Boozman (R-Ark.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.). Caucuses in the Senate are informal groups that do not receive official recognition from the chamber or funding through appropriations. The House created a chemistry caucus last year, and its membership, which has grown to include about 35 lawmakers, supported the 2016 revision of the federal law governing commercial chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control