Industry Backed Bill Could Block the EPA From Using Chemical Toxicity Data to Inform Protective Regulations

The following summary largely comes from an informative article by Pro Republica, also summarized by the Environmental Health Network:

Key Takeaways

• “The IRIS program, which has provided independent chemical toxicity assessments since the 1980s, is under attack by Republican lawmakers and industry groups pushing legislation to ban its use in environmental regulations.
• The “No IRIS Act” would prohibit the EPA from relying on IRIS data when enforcing pollution limits, potentially rolling back protections against known carcinogens and toxic pollutants.
• The bill aligns with the anti-regulatory agenda of Trump’s second term, echoing corporate claims that IRIS assessments harm industry profits, despite their role in identifying cancer risks and informing regulations that have shut down hazardous polluters.”

Background

“As of mid-2025, the bill to eliminate the EPA’s IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) program—commonly called the “No IRIS Act”—has been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate.

“The legislation is championed by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI), with strong backing from industry groups such as the American Chemistry Council. 

“The bills would prohibit the EPA from using any IRIS chemical toxicity assessments to inform regulations, enforcement actions, or permits that limit toxic emissions. This would effectively strip the EPA of its scientific foundation for setting pollution standards and protecting public health from hazardous chemicals.

“At present, the bills are under consideration in Congress. While similar efforts in previous years lacked the political support to advance, the current political environment—with Republican control of the House and a Republican administration—makes passage more plausible, though not guaranteed. There is significant opposition from state attorneys general, environmental groups, and public health advocates, who argue that dismantling IRIS would undermine vital protections against toxic chemicals and make it harder for states to set their own safety standards.

Why this matters

“Without IRIS, the EPA loses its scientific backbone for determining chemical risks, leaving communities — especially those near industrial sites — vulnerable to increased exposure to carcinogens. For industry, this is a dream come true. For the public, it’s a fast track to more toxic exposure, weaker pollution laws, and corporate polluters getting a free pass.”

“It’s blatant self-interest. What they’re really trying to do here is prevent the EPA from doing assessments of their chemicals.”

— Robert Sussman, a veteran attorney who previously worked at the EPA as well as chemical companies