New Poll: Republicans, Democrats and Independents Strongly Oppose Weakening Chemical Safety Law

(WASHINGTON) – A new poll from Environmental Defense Fund finds that a strong majority (92%) of Americans feel that protecting clean air and safe drinking water should be treated as a top public health priority, just like preventing disease.

The poll, conducted nationally by Normington Petts, found that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is universally popular with more than four-in-five (82%) favoring the law, including 17% who strongly favor it. That support is consistent, regardless of gender, race, age, education level or party affiliation. In fact, 96% of Democrats, 96% of Independents and 93% of Republicans favor the law.

However, the chemistry lobby is urging Congress to amend the law, including changes that would allow companies to bring new chemicals to market without sufficient independent scientific review to determine whether they are safe.

Members of Congress should note that opposition to changes among all groups surveyed is high, with the overwhelming majority (74%) of voters opposing proposed changes to TSCA with nearly half (45%) strongly opposing those changes. More than four-in-five Democrats and Independents (84% and 83% respectively) oppose the changes, as well as the majority (57%) of Republicans.

“The chemicals lobby made it clear early in this Congressional session that its goal is to weaken the Toxic Substances Control Act. This law was passed in 2016 with bipartisan support, and Americans across political lines oppose the idea of members allowing more chemicals to come to market without sufficient review,” said Joanna Slaney, Vice President for Government and Political Affairs at Environmental Defense Fund. “They are already unhappy with corporate influence at the Environmental Protection Agency. Doing favors for the chemicals lobby will put Americans’ health at risk while angering Republicans, Democrats and Independents.”

Voters are wary of the sway industry has in shaping policies that impact their daily lives, with 85% saying large corporations, including chemical companies, have too much influence over decisions that affect their health.

“Corporate influence on government decisions is unpopular among both Republicans and Democrats,” Slaney said. “Changing the Toxic Substances Control Act, our main protection from dangerous chemicals, will only further erode trust in members of Congress.”

Normington Petts surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide online between September 29 and October 5. These individuals are likely to vote in the 2026 election. The results include an oversample of 200 male voters who are between the ages of 18 and 34 for a total of 1,200 total interviews.