Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s(D-NJ) “Safe Chemicals Act,” by a 10-8 margin in a partisan voice vote as we said would happen In yesterday’s blog. The 170 page substitute amendment that was approved would “require manufacturers to develop and submit safety data for each chemical they produce, while avoiding duplicative or unnecessary testing. “ It would prioritize chemicals based on risk, place the burden of proof on manufacturers to determine the safety of their chemicals, promote innovation and development of safer alternatives, and it would restrict the use of chemicals that cannot be proven safe according to a press release from Sen. Lautenberg’s office. While the bill’s approval by the committee provides a historic step in TSCA reform, it is unlikely to become law by the end of the year unless major compromises are reached between the parties.