WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group and the Household & Commercial Products Association have launched the Partnership for the Future of EPA to advocate for mission-critical resources for the Environmental Protection Agency and educate policymakers about the EPA’s responsibilities, economic impact, and organizational and infrastructure needs.
“The EPA has an important role to play in chemical safety reviews and regulation,” said Ken Cook, president and co-founder of EWG. “But the agency’s chemical safety review office has been chronically underfunded, despite being given new responsibilities, and consumers are losing confidence in the safety of the products we buy.”
The Partnership for the Future of EPA will comprise stakeholders, including trade associations, companies and NGOs, dedicated to advancing the interests of the agency. Its work will include advocating for adequate funding, which will help the EPA to execute its mission of protecting human health and the environment.
“It’s impossible for the EPA to do its work without the appropriate funding and resources to address business-critical functions, staff training and working through process improvements,” said Steve Caldeira, president and CEO of HCPA.
In recent years, Congress has failed to provide the EPA with the money it needs to quickly modernize information technology systems and maintain a sufficient workforce.
Part of the coalition’s efforts will include educating policymakers about the important work of the EPA, so they are more inclined to adequately fund the agency.
For more information about the Partnership for the Future of EPA, please visit epa.thehcpa.org.
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About EWG
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
About HCPA
The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is the premier trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell $180 billion annually of trusted and familiar products used for cleaning, protecting, maintaining, and disinfecting homes and commercial environments. HCPA member companies employ 200,000 people in the U.S. whose work helps consumers and workers to create cleaner, healthier, and more productive lives.
