WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the No Industrial Restrictions In Secret Act (No IRIS Act) to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using data from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to make rules against America’s chemical manufacturing industry.

“The Biden White House is using the EPA’s IRIS to create more red tape for America’s chemical manufacturers, and it is crushing the industry. The No IRIS Act would ensure that unelected bureaucrats do not abuse the IRIS to implement rules that kill Louisiana jobs and hurt our economy without congressional approval,” said Kennedy.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) is leading the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Chemistry is the driving force behind American innovation. Computer chips, modern healthcare, housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and energy are all made possible by America’s chemical industry. Unfortunately, the EPA’s IRIS program puts many critical chemistries in jeopardy. The IRIS program has a troubling history of being out of step with the best available science and methods, lacking transparency, and being unresponsive to peer review and stakeholder recommendations. As a result, the IRIS program—which has never been authorized by Congress—produces assessments that defy common sense. We applaud Senator Kennedy for introducing this critical legislation to promote sound science and protect America’s ability to compete and innovate,” said Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council.

The No IRIS Act would prohibit the federal government from using the IRIS to inform its rulemakings unless Congress explicitly authorizes the program. 

Background:

• The EPA established the IRIS program in 1985 to gather data on how chemicals impact human health.

• Currently, the IRIS program is not authorized in statute. As a result, unelected bureaucrats within the EPA abuse the program to hurt chemical makers with virtually zero Congressional oversight.

• Additionally, the EPA designed the IRIS to spot health hazards—not make policy. Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, the IRIS utilizes unscientific methods that wreak havoc on American businesses. 

• In Louisiana, chemical manufacturers, such as those that make products that sterilize medical equipment, support more than $3.6 billion in economic activity and provide 1,700 direct jobs and 5,600 indirect jobs for Americans. 

Full text of the No IRIS Act is available here.