Speaking Topics:
- Chemical Management
- Leadership Skills
- Sustainability
Chris Jahn
President & Chief Executive Officer, American Chemistry Council
As President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), Chris is responsible for advancing ACC’s mission to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing.
Chris has been named by The Hill as one of Washington, DC’s “Top Lobbyists” and by the Washingtonian as one of DC’s “Most Influential People” for representing the U.S. business of chemistry and its customers within the halls of Congress.
In 2021, Chris partnered with Harris County officials in Houston to expand an extensive state-of-the-art air monitoring system to continuously track and evaluate air quality. The partnership included a $1 million donation from ACC’s foundation for mobile and stationary monitors.
In 2020, Chris spearheaded ACC’s role as a founding partner of the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI), which provides scholarships for students pursuing STEM degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Chris received the AIChE “Doing a World of Good Medal” and the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for his commitment to supporting a skilled, diverse workforce.
Also in 2020, Chris oversaw a strategic review of Responsible Care®, the chemical industry’s environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) performance initiative, resulting in enhancements to the Responsible Care Process Safety Code and Responsible Care Security Code.
Prior to joining ACC in 2019, Chris served as President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, president of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, and president of the Contract Services Association. He began his career on Capitol Hill, including time as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY).
Chris earned an MBA from the University of Maryland and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University in New York.
Recent Speaking Engagements
Most Recent Content from Chris Jahn
ACC Letter to Biden on Creating an Interagency Policy Committee
Because it is part of our role at the American Chemistry Council to encourage policymakers across the federal government to understand the cumulative and cascading impact of regulations on the chemical industry and the broader economy, we request that you create an Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) led by the Director of the White House National Economic Council to coordinate an economic impact analysis. The IPC would require all cabinet departments to evaluate the regulatory proposals by other federal agencies specifically to identify their impact on the ability and speed of administering the programs of those federal departments, especially the new responsibilities associated with implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, and how to more effectively implement those existing and new programs.
ACC Pre-NPRM Comment Letter on 45V
On behalf of the American Chemistry Council and its members, I urge the Administration to release the long-awaited draft guidance on eligibility criteria for the Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, consistent with the text and intent of Congress and practical realities of early hydrogen production and infrastructure deployment. As critical producers, users, and enablers in this new economy, our members see the 45V tax credit as one of the most important elements of the IRA/BIL lower emissions economy framework.
Investing in Our Planet — Community by Community
On Saturday, we celebrated Earth Day, and like last year, this year’s theme was “Invest in Our Planet.” I took time to reflect on where we are as a country, as an industry, and as individuals in our efforts to become better stewards of our environment and actively engaged members of our communities.
Leading with Chemistry: What We Do Is Essential—And So Is How We Do It
Known for decades as the central science, more recently chemistry has earned yet another new moniker—the Science Behind Sustainability—making chemistry, and the facilities that produce chemistry, essential to creating a cleaner, safer, and healthier world.
CHIPS and Science Act Will Help Boost U.S. Manufacturing and Chemical Supply Chain
The signing of the CHIPS and Science Act into law is good news for growing several important and vital sectors of American manufacturing. Simple explanation — the bipartisan initiative will help put U.S. semiconductor and chemical producers in a much better position to compete with other countries, including China.
ACC Letter on PFAS provisions in H.R. 7900, FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) strongly supports the rigorous, well-established scientific and administrative process Congress has designed for the regulation of chemicals management in the United States. We are deeply concerned with language in and amendments to H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, that would circumvent the ongoing regulatory process for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), restrict procurement of certain PFAS-containing products, threaten the supply chain for critical products and technologies, impose restrictions on disposal that will hinder cleanup, and dramatically escalate the cleanup costs for the Department of Defense (DoD) at eligible sites.
ACC Letter to House and Senate Committees on TSCA FY23 Budget
Congress modernized the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 2016 with the stated goals of better science, more federal authority to protect against unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment, and the exercise of that authority in such a way that does not impede unduly or create unnecessary economic barriers to technological innovation.1 Six years into implementation of this law, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) is concerned that the TSCA program is failing to meet these goals. Continued failure could lead to major supply constraints on critical chemicals and applications, including but not limited to semiconductors, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, climate-friendly refrigerants, medical devices and water treatment. We respectfully request Congress reengage on TSCA before it is too late.
ACC Testimony to STB on Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service
Verbal Remarks as Prepared Chris Jahn President and Chief Executive Officer to the Surface Transportation Board Public Hearing on Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service
America’s Chemical Companies: Building Toward a Cleaner, Safer Future
We in the chemical industry have been at the forefront of innovating to create new technologies and products that can help increase sustainability. That’s our history and we’re proud of it. As we assess our efforts, we recognize that we can do even better.