U.S. Innovation Stalled by EPA TSCA Delays, Pushing American Manufacturing Overseas

America was built by workers, builders, and innovators. American chemistry powers the manufacturing that keeps this nation strong.

The fertilizer that feeds our farms, the coatings that protect our steel, the materials in our weapons systems, and the chips powering artificial intelligence — all begin with chemistry made by American workers in American plants.

It takes more than 500 specialty chemistries to produce a single computer chip.

President Donald Trump has prioritized rebuilding American manufacturing as a central national goal. This effort should unite those who care about jobs, supply chains, national security, and America’s competitiveness.

When America makes things, it is stronger. When production moves overseas, we lose more than jobs; we lose self-reliance.

The pandemic made this lesson clear. Americans witnessed the consequences when critical supply chains became too dependent on other countries. China gained excessive control over essential manufacturing, and the United States suffered the costs.

Today, a broken federal review process managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undermining American manufacturing goals.

This process slows innovation, creates uncertainty for investors, and makes it harder to keep the next generation of manufacturing here at home.

A major culprit is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a law EPA administers that most Americans have never heard of. It governs how new chemistries reach the market.

Right now, more than 446 new American chemistries are stuck in the federal review pipeline with 92% past the mandatory review deadline, and over 300 have been waiting longer than a year.

While American innovators face delays, China continues to advance. It is already the world’s largest chemical producer — roughly four times the size of our industry — and builds new facilities in a fraction of the time.

Every day this backlog persists, China gains strength while America falls further behind. Consider this real-world example: an American chemical manufacturer developed breakthrough cooling technology for high-performance chips used in artificial intelligence data centers.

However, due to delays and uncertainty in the EPA review process, that product is now being made overseas. Think about it: America is racing with China for leadership in artificial intelligence, yet our own regulatory processes pushed an American innovation abroad.

Let us be clear: this is not about weakening safety standards. America’s chemical safety protections are strong and should remain so.

The problem lies in a slow, unpredictable bureaucracy that has drifted away from sound science and toward worst-case speculation.

Real science requires evaluating chemistries based on facts, evidence, and real-world use — not fear-driven assumptions that can block American progress. When Washington prioritizes ideology over evidence, innovation stalls and jobs move overseas.

The good news is this issue can be resolved. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin deserves credit for recognizing the problem and initiating improvements.

Early signs are encouraging: at a recent Senate hearing, Zeldin reported that the agency expects to approve more premanufacture notices (PMNs) in 2026 than in any of the previous five years.

However, administrative changes alone are insufficient. What one administration improves can be undone by another.

To ensure TSCA works consistently for American workers, manufacturers, and consumers, Congress must act. Congress has a deadline: the fees authority that funds TSCA (paid by industry, not taxpayers) expires on September 30.

This gives lawmakers a timely opportunity to reauthorize fees and implement targeted reforms that make the program more predictable, transparent, and grounded in sound science.

Legislative efforts are underway in both chambers. In the House, Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Gary Palmer are advancing a bill. In the Senate, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) are pressing for action. Sen. Pete Ricketts has also introduced legislation focused on restoring sound science principles to the TSCA process.

Congress has less than four months to enact TSCA improvements before this opportunity passes.

President Trump has set a clear goal of strengthening American manufacturing, and EPA is taking important steps. Now Congress must complete the job and make these improvements by September 30.

American chemistry helped build this nation. Let us keep building it here in America, by Americans, for Americans.

Congress must act swiftly to fix TSCA, strengthen U.S. competitiveness, and keep American manufacturing moving forward.