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119-s-4397119th CongressWALLET

Sound Science Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen scientific standards and interagency coordination for chemical risk evaluations under TSCA. This bill would tighten testing rules, require coordinated review among federal agencies, and add formal peer review and worker‑protection steps to how EPA evaluates chemical risks.

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  • Workers: EPA would have to consult with OSHA and other departments and weigh input from industrial hygiene, toxicology, engineering, and process safety experts when deciding whether a unique worker protection standard is needed. This aims to better align workplace protections with chemical risk findings.
  • Federal agencies and scientists: The bill would create a formal interagency review giving agencies not less than 30 days to submit information and comments on draft risk evaluations before public notice. It also lengthens certain review windows to 60 days, requires EPA to consider exposure limits developed by other agencies, and adds in-person peer review with at least 30 days for reviewers to examine the science used in evaluations.
  • Manufacturers and registrants: Testing rules would require technically feasible methods, ask that testing requests state intended and known uses, and rely on OECD test guidelines that EPA must identify and update at least once every 2 years. The bill also removes a clause that previously said some actions were made "without consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors", and it requires selection of cost‑effective risk‑mitigation measures that do not create greater risks.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

New cost and risk management rules

If enacted, the bill would change the TSCA standard for controls so EPA would "minimize, to the extent reasonably feasible," risks instead of requiring that the chemical no longer present the risk. The bill would also remove a rule that actions must be made without considering costs, allowing EPA to weigh costs and other nonrisk factors when taking certain actions. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Changes to how EPA reviews chemical risks

If enacted, the bill would make EPA get formal interagency input when doing TSCA risk evaluations and give other agencies at least 30 days to comment before public notice. EPA would have to consider exposure limits from other federal agencies and not assume noncompliance with laws like OSHA. Risk evaluations would focus on hazards "more likely than not" to cause harm and analyze "sentinel exposures," with aggregate exposures allowed only after a written finding. The bill would extend the public comment period on draft risk evaluations to 60 days, require in-person committee peer review with at least 30 days for reviewers, and require final actions to include any scientific assessments relied on.

New rules for chemical testing

If enacted, the bill would require EPA to use identified OECD test guidelines where relevant when setting accepted test methods. The agency would update its official list of test methods at least once every 2 years. Testing plans would have public notice and comment on both the plan and each proposed test method. Testing rules, orders, and consent agreements would need to use "technically feasible" methods and state the intended and known uses of the chemical.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

NE • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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