American Chemical Society celebrates passage of bipartisan sustainable chemistry legislation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2021 — The American Chemical Society (ACS) lauds the passage of the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich.; and Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., is critical to the future of the chemical sciences. 

The Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act creates a multiagency taskforce to guide investment in sustainable chemistry research, as well as a new public-private partnership program. It also authorizes a broad review of existing chemistry programs to give Congress a better understanding of the government’s role in green and sustainable chemistry. ACS has led efforts to pass this legislation over several congresses with sustained grassroots member advocacy.

“ACS applauds the passage of the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act as part of the NDAA,” notes Glenn S. Ruskin, vice president, ACS External Affairs & Communications. “Representing more than a decade of work, this legislation increases innovation of, coordination of and investment in green and sustainable chemistry. We appreciate the strong leadership of Sens. Coons and Collins and Reps. Moolenaar and Lipinski to boost science and ensure a sustainable future.”

The importance of this issue is highlighted in the ACS statement “Sustainability and the Chemistry Enterprise.” According to that statement, “Meeting human needs globally now and in the future will require new knowledge, novel technologies, and radical collaborations. The federal government can support the chemical enterprise’s role through: funding research, development, and demonstration; developing an informed workforce; and facilitating communication and collaboration between stakeholders and with the public.”

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder^® and STN^®), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.