{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-epa-rule-would-undermine-american-national-security-hurt-domestic-semiconductor-manufacturing", "Cotton: EPA Rule Would Undermine American National Security, Hurt Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Caroline Tabler (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 14, 2023\n\nCotton: EPA Rule Would Undermine American National Security, Hurt Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan, expressing concern about a proposed rule that would update chemical regulations. Senator Cotton detailed how the rule would make the United States more dependent on China for critical technology and endanger American semiconductor manufacturing jobs.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cEven President Biden agrees that our \u2018long-term economic and national security requires a sustainable, competitive domestic [semiconductor] industry.\u2019 This proposed rule would make it nearly impossible to onshore semiconductor manufacturing and would endanger over 277,000 jobs already in the U.S.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nDecember 14, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Michael Regan\n\nAdministrator\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\n\n1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20004\n\nDear Administrator Regan:\n\nI write regarding the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) proposed rule updating U.S. chemical regulations. The rule, \u201cUpdates to New Chemicals Regulations Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)\u201d (88 FR 34100), would hurt our nation\u2019s semiconductor industry and our national security.\n\nCurrently, manufacturers can receive low volume exemption (LVE) approvals from the EPA for certain new chemical substances. These approvals are subject to strict health and safety requirements and are critical for U.S. manufacturing. Unfortunately, the proposed rule would make per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) categorically ineligible for LVEs.\n\nIn its comments on the proposed rule, a leading trade association stated that the semiconductor industry relies on more than 200 active LVEs for substances that likely meet the EPA\u2019s proposed PFAS definition. They added that proposed rule would \u201cresult in the semiconductor industry being unable to manufacture devices in the U.S.\u201d\n\nEven President Biden agrees that our \u201clong-term economic and national security requires a sustainable, competitive domestic [semiconductor] industry.\u201d This proposed rule would make it nearly impossible to onshore semiconductor manufacturing and would endanger over 277,000 jobs already in the U.S.\n\nPlease answer the following questions by January 15, 2024:\n\nHas the EPA consulted with the Department of Commerce on this rule and its impact on semiconductor manufacturing? If yes, did Commerce raise concerns about the impact?\n\nHas the EPA consulted with the Department of Defense regarding national security implications?\n\nWhat other critical national security industries could this rule impact? Please describe how the EPA intends to make accommodations for critical national security industries, including semiconductors, that rely on PFAS-containing materials.\n\nThank you for your consideration of this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n________________________", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-epa-rule-would-undermine-american-national-security-hurt-domestic-semiconductor-manufacturing"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.814331928268075, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}