Again, thank you.

We do, in fact, have a great interest in recruiting individuals who are concerned about this issue because an effective reform of TSCA means their families are safer. We also are striving to recruit those who work in the industry whose jobs depend upon a balanced approach to TSCA reform. And, yes, we are very actively reaching out to businesses and trade organizations who are interested in breaking with the status quo advocating for TSCA reform.

Again, we are a new organization. To the extent that our membership is not yet as diverse as we would like is a not a result of our aims but more a result of the fact that we have yet to formally begin promoting ourselves in the public sphere. We look forward to a diverse and growing membership base and are appreciative of any interest this ongoing dialogue that you have kindly permitted will generate.

Thanks for your prompt reply, and also for confirming my suspicion that the American Chemistry Council was also involved. The reason I didn't list ACC is simple: Nowhere on the site that I can find are they identified.

It's interesting you say you are reaching out to all kinds of groups, given that the website only invites businesses to apply to be coalition members.

Let me be clear (including for Erica's sake) that I am in no way objecting to industry engaging on these issues, and I myself am frequently talking with companies and their associations and intend to continue to do so.

What I do object to is when industry pretends to be something it is not, which your website does in many ways, including those I described in my post. If the coalition stops pretending to represent families, kids, workers, etc., we can have a robust dialogue about the direction chemicals policy reform can take in the U.S.

Regards,
Richard

I am the Executive Director of the Coalition for Chemical Safety. Thank you very much for referencing us in your post today. It is an organization that has yet to formally launch but as you've pointed out it is an organization with a growing and diverse membership. Although you do not list it, I will confirm up front that another member of the organization is the American Chemistry Council.

As the website says, the Coalition for Chemical Safety is being built to advocate for a balanced reform of our chemical safety laws. That means a law that places the safety of consumers and workers as its first priority, while also encouraging industry innovation and the American jobs that result from it.

We are reaching out to businesses, labor groups, industry associations, consumer organizations and environmental organizations in hopes of building a consensus toward a reform that accomplishes these aims. We would, in fact, be honored if you and your organization considered joining us.

It is my firm belief that this debate does not have to be a zero sum game. As you noted on the website, our frame is Safety, innovation and jobs. With a truly balanced reform we can have all three.