OMB Watch commends the U.S. House of Representatives for sending a strong message by passing a measure to preserve the public's right to know about toxic pollution in communities across the country. Lawmakers voted to accept the Pallone-Solis Toxic Right-To-Know Amendment that shuts down the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plans to reduce reporting of toxic pollution under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program.

The vote represents a giant stride in the fight to preserve the public's right to know about toxic pollution. It's also a clear statement that the EPA's proposed cuts to toxic pollution reporting are unacceptable.

Congress created the TRI in response to tragedies involving chemical releases, including the explosion at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India that killed thousands. For nearly 20 years, the TRI has been an essential tool to alert communities, workers, first responders, and public health officials of toxic chemicals. The TRI has helped communities deal with highly hazardous situations, such as Hurricane Katrina.

The Pallone-Solis Toxic Right-to-Know Amendment prevents the EPA from continuing with any of the dangerous proposals by barring the agency from spending money on the changes.

OMB Watch thanks and congratulates the many organizations and individuals around the country that worked so hard over the past months to make this victory possible. More than 113,000 people wrote to the EPA to oppose its plans to rollback toxic pollution reporting; many of these people also contacted their representatives in Congress requesting their intervention. Public health officials, state agencies, emergency responders, unions, social investment groups, libraries, environmental organizations, among others, joined in the fight. They all deserve credit.

We are encouraged by the House vote and hopeful that the EPA will be dissuaded from moving forward with its irresponsible plans for reduced reporting. If they're not, the battle to save the TRI may move to the Senate or to the EPA itself. OMB Watch is confident that the extensive opposition that has come together to make this victory possible will continue to protect the public's right to know.

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