Categories for Policy

Navigating the Evolving Political Landscape

In today's evolving political landscape, we face aggressive regulatory environments and significant legal and political shifts unlike anything I've encountered in my career. You have my word: SOCMA is vigilantly monitoring these changes, assessing their impact on our members. Our scope encompasses not only the presidential election but also Supreme Court decisions and the ongoing activities of federal agencies. 

July 23, 2024

OSHA Releases Long-Awaited Updates to Hazard Communication Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its final rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The HCS ensures chemical safety in the workplace by requiring manufacturers to provide information about hazardous chemicals through labels, safety data sheets, and training to employees. The final rule becomes effective July 19, 2024. 

May 20, 2024

SOCMA Praises Legislation to Reauthorize Key Trade Program 

SOCMA strongly supports the introduction of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Reform Act by Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) with nearly 20 cosponsors, including 17 Ways and Means Committee members. SOCMA has been advocating for MTB reauthorization since 2020 and focused on educating congressional offices on the Ways and Means Committee. 

May 15, 2024

SOCMA Ramps Up Advocacy Efforts on EPA’s RMP Rule

SOCMA commends the House Energy & Commerce Committee for holding a hearing earlier this week on EPA’s recently finalized Risk Management Program (RMP) rule. We are pleased that Members of Congress took action based on the educational efforts of SOCMA’s Advocacy Committee and publicly turned their attention to the overly prescriptive program, which creates security vulnerabilities and diverts resources from critical security, safety, and process improvements.

May 10, 2024

EPA Releases Methylene Chloride (MCL) Risk Management Final Rule

Today, EPA released a pre-publication of the risk management final rule for Methylene Chloride Regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). While the proposed rule set out to ban almost all uses of methylene chloride, SOCMA was successful in winning allowances for several conditions of use that are critical for SOCMA members.

April 30, 2024

SOCMA Government Relations Update: Trade & Supply Chain

Last week, the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees held hearings on “The Administration’s 2024 Trade Priorities”, where US Trade Representative Katherine Tai appeared as a witness to discuss the President’s stances on current and potential trade programs.

April 25, 2024