{"id":4185,"date":"2015-03-10T13:01:38","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T18:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/?p=4185"},"modified":"2024-02-12T11:01:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T16:01:40","slug":"bi-partisan-chemical-safety-bill-introduced-to-strengthen-protections-against-health-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/2015\/03\/10\/bi-partisan-chemical-safety-bill-introduced-to-strengthen-protections-against-health-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Bi-Partisan Chemical Safety Bill Introduced to Strengthen Protections Against Health Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Richard Denison, Ph.D.,\u00a0<\/em>is a Lead Senior Scientist.<\/em><\/p>\n

Environmental Defense Fund issued the following press release in response to today’s introduction of The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st<\/sup> Century Act [UPDATE: \u00a0The bill number is S. 697]<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0We have also prepared an accompanying\u00a0factsheet<\/a>\u00a0and detailed bill analysis<\/a>\u00a0[UPDATED to reflect changes in bill as reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on April 28, 2015]<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bi-Partisan Chemical Safety Bill
\nCreates Strong New Protections Against Hidden Health Threats<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st<\/sup> Century Act Would Overhaul Weak Federal Law, Provide New Powers to Require Safety of All Chemicals<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

(Washington DC, March 10, 2015)\u2014Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and David Vitter (R-LA), together with seven Democratic and eight Republican cosponsors introduced legislation today to fix a badly broken system that is currently failing to protect Americans against thousands of untested or hazardous chemicals used in all kinds of everyday products, from cleaning products, to clothing, to couches.<\/p>\n

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st<\/sup> Century Act<\/a> would overhaul the nearly 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the nation\u2019s primary federal chemical safety law, establishing strong new protections to ensure the safety of chemicals in everyday products. Certain common chemicals are linked to cancer, infertility, diabetes, Parkinson’s and other illnesses. Pregnant woman, infants, and children are especially vulnerable. Under the current law, Americans are exposed to thousands of chemicals every day, only a small fraction of which have ever been adequately reviewed for safety. TSCA is so badly broken that EPA is virtually powerless to restrict even known deadly carcinogens such as asbestos.<\/p>\n

Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans shouldn\u2019t have to worry whether chemicals in their homes pose a threat to their families. With lawmakers coming together from both sides of the aisle, this is the best chance in a generation for us to move past an obsolete and badly broken law to provide strong protections for all Americans. We look forward to working with Senator Udall, the environmental community and other stakeholders to get the strongest bill possible enacted into law.\u00a0Congress cannot afford to let this historic opportunity slip from its grasp. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to seize the moment and act.”<\/p>\n

The new legislation would update the current law and give EPA the tools it needs to ensure the safety of chemicals and significantly strengthen health protections for American families. Notably, the bill:<\/p>\n