ISSA, The Association for Cleaning & Facility Solutions, applauds the introduction of the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act of 2026 in the House of Representatives by Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA). Companion Senate legislation was previously introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jon Husted (R-OH). These bills would formally authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice Program, a voluntary, science-based certification program that helps identify cleaning and consumer products formulated with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.

The legislation builds support for a program providing manufacturers, institutional purchasers, cleaning professionals, and consumers with clear, reliable information to guide product selection. The bill would codify the program’s structure, establish transparent procedures for product certification, authorize qualified third-party profilers to support technical evaluations, and require annual reporting to Congress on program performance.

The bipartisan, bicameral introduction reflects growing recognition of the Safer Choice Program’s value to the cleaning and facility solutions industry, purchasers, and the public. It also follows sustained advocacy by ISSA and its members, including the 140+ industry leaders who participated in the association’s Clean Advocacy Summit fly-in event in Washington, DC last March. Authorization of the Safer Choice Program was a top legislative priority during more than 150 Capitol Hill meetings, where ISSA members made the case directly to congressional offices across both chambers.

For the cleaning and facility solutions industry, the stakes are significant. Cleaning professionals in schools, hospitals, office buildings, and public facilities rely on Safer Choice-certified products as a trusted benchmark for both performance and safety. Formal authorization would provide manufacturers with regulatory certainty, encouraging continued innovation in safer chemistry and investment in product development aligned with the program’s rigorous standards.

“San Diegans and families across the country rely on safe, effective products every day, and they should know if these products have been vetted against the highest health and safety standards,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bipartisan bill would permanently give consumers that peace of mind and provide American producers the competitive advantage of a trusted, nationally recognized label. I’m glad to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure the Safer Choice Program benefits consumers and producers for years to come.”

“American families shouldn’t have to be chemists to know whether the products they buy meet high standards for health, safety, and performance,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks. “This bipartisan legislation gives consumers clearer information while encouraging manufacturers to develop safer products, all without creating a new mandatory regulatory regime. As a physician, I’m proud to support a voluntary, science-based approach that gives Americans more confidence in the products they use every day.”

“The introduction of companion legislation in the House is a major step forward for the EPA Safer Choice Program and the businesses, workers, and purchasers who rely on it,” said John Nothdurft, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at ISSA, The Association for Cleaning & Facility Solutions. “For decades, Safer Choice has helped raise the bar for cleaning products that deliver performance while using ingredients that are safer for people and the environment. By putting this proven, voluntary program on firmer statutory footing, Congress can give manufacturers the certainty to keep innovating, give purchasers a trusted federal benchmark, and give families confidence in the products used to clean the places where they live, learn, work, and receive care. ISSA thanks Representatives Peters and Miller-Meeks for their bipartisan leadership and urges Congress to advance this bill this year.”

Take Action: ISSA strongly encourages industry members, cleaning professionals, and stakeholders to contact their congressional delegation today and urge swift passage of the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act of 2026. Send a message directly to your U.S. Senators and Representative in ISSA’s Voter Voice Action Center.

For questions regarding the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act and ISSA Advocacy, contact John Nothdurft, [email protected].