Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy has introduced the No Industrial Restrictions In Secret (No IRIS) Act, aiming to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) use of data from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) in rulemaking processes. This legislative move is designed to protect America's chemical manufacturing industry from what Kennedy describes as "government overreach."

Kennedy criticized the Biden administration for allegedly using the EPA’s IRIS program against the chemical sector, stating, “For four years, the Biden administration weaponized the EPA’s IRIS program against America’s chemical industry. My bill would prevent this kind of abuse from happening again and safeguard American businesses from government overreach.”

The proposed legislation seeks to restrict federal agencies from utilizing IRIS data unless explicitly authorized by Congress. Representative Glenn Grothman is leading a similar effort in the House of Representatives.

Grothman expressed concerns about how unelected officials have impacted Wisconsin's chemical manufacturers through alleged misuse of the IRIS program. He stated, “Unelected bureaucrats have often disrupted the work of Wisconsin's chemical manufacturers and inhibited the success of the industry through the abuse of the EPA’s IRIS program.” He added that these actions conflict with scientific expertise and methodologies within the industry.

Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, also voiced support for Kennedy and Grothman's initiative. Jahn highlighted various sectors reliant on chemistry and criticized IRIS for its lack of alignment with current scientific standards. He remarked, "American success relies on American chemistry... It’s time for Congress and EPA to take action and put sound science at the forefront of regulatory decision-making."

The EPA established IRIS in 1985 to assess health hazards posed by chemicals but not as a policymaking tool. The system currently operates without statutory authorization, which critics argue allows unchecked influence over regulations affecting Louisiana's significant chemical production sector.

As Louisiana ranks as a major player in U.S. chemical production—second-largest as of 2023—the implications for local employment are substantial. The state's industry reportedly paid $3.49 billion in wages that year.