SOCMA Plans Third Washington Flyin for June
Chemical executives will rally in the nation’s capital to discuss their concerns with elected officials during the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates' (SOCMA) annual Washington Fly-in on June 15 and 16.
Participants must be members of the organization and register through its Web site.
The event, the third of its kind, brings together chemical manufacturers from throughout the United States for the opportunity to influence public policy. SOCMA also is hosting a “Virtual Fly-In” for members unable to make the visit to Washington on June 14-18.
“Congress is currently debating two of SOCMA’s top five legislative priorities – chemical site security and reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act – making this an opportune time to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill,” said Lawrence D. Sloan, SOCMA president and chief executive officer. “We have a week full of activities designed to enable as much industry grassroots participation as possible and invite all our members to take part.”
In February, SOCMA supported the introduction of Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) bipartisan bill (S.2996) that would extend the current chemical security standards until 2015. More recently, SOCMA expressed concerns following Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-N.J.) introduction of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010. The legislation would overhaul TSCA by imposing a new, stringent approach to regulating chemicals. Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) have also released a discussion draft of the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010, which complements the Senate bill.
Collins and Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), who have worked extensively on chemical site security issues, will address Fly-in participants during a special reception on Capitol Hill.