A new Republican bill in the US House wants to roll back key protections in toxic chemical laws. It targets the 2016 update to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). The bill, led by Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer, limits science types to assess health risks and reduces EPA powers to block harmful chemicals. The bill would stop the EPA from legally ensuring chemicals are safe before use. Instead, chemicals only need to be "probably" safe, allowing risky substances like PFAS to enter the market. It removes EPA's duty to limit chemical use linked to health risks and demands regulations be "cost-effective" for companies. Public health advocates call this a major step back. Daniel Savery from Earthjustice warned, "Industry has said it has a ‘historic opportunity’ to revise TSCA, or gut it, as we believe it to be." Maria Doa from the Environmental Defense Fund added, "They put industry profits ahead of health." The bill also changes how science guides chemical safety. It gives more weight to industry studies, restricts exposure testing, and forces EPA to meet with chemical makers during reviews—reducing the agency's independence. EPA scientists would face pressure to complete reviews quickly, risking poor decisions. Moreover, the bill limits considering combined chemical exposures from different sources. It also lets industry sue EPA during risk assessments, likely dragging out safety reviews. Worker safety might suffer, as regulations stricter than OSHA limits would be banned, though some OSHA limits are outdated. The American Chemistry Council praised the bill. CEO Chris Jahn said, "Getting TSCA back on track is critical for American chemistry and for industries like energy, healthcare and agriculture." With Republicans controlling Congress and the White House, the bill has momentum. Still, some GOP lawmakers aware of public concern may hesitate. Savery commented, "It should be a difficult vote for Republicans to take this year."