Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana has introduced a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to counter the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that targets trichloroethylene (TCE) usage. This action comes in response to the Biden administration's December 2024 final rule, which aims to ban all applications of TCE, a chemical prevalent in industrial cleaning products and other materials.

Kennedy criticized the administration's stance, stating, "The Biden administration waged war against America’s chemical producers who provide critical products to many industries and help keep our economy running. Congress should move quickly to take off the handcuffs that President Biden placed on Louisiana and U.S. businesses."

In support of this initiative, Representative Diana Harshbarger from Tennessee introduced a corresponding resolution in the House of Representatives. Harshbarger expressed concerns about overregulation by saying, "The Biden rule for TCE is one of many examples of the Biden Administration’s overregulation. This regulation harms our national security, economy, and critical infrastructure and will cost jobs in my district, so we’re doing everything we can to stop it. I’m proud to partner with Senator Kennedy and get this over the finish line."

The EPA's regulation classifies TCE as a regulated substance despite its status as a byproduct of ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer—chemicals used in various everyday products like pipes and medical devices. The proposed resolution seeks to repeal this classification.

Further details on the full resolution text are available for public access.