In D.C. the wheels are turning for chemical policy reform
The effort to update and reform our toxic chemical laws is moving from the state level to the federal level and was kicked off with a US Senate hearing on Thursday February 4th. The Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held the hearing to find out what scientists know about chemicals that are affecting our health. This is the first step in the journey to overhaul the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). TSCA is our federal law that governs toxic chemical production and use, but it is decades-old and in desperate need of updating.
In a crowded hearing room, Senators mulled over TSCA and seemed to be in agreement that current laws are inadequate to protect families and children from health effects linked to toxic chemical exposure. TSCA is due to be updated with new legislation in early 2010.
The Subcommittee Chair, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), in the opening remarks for the hearing said,
“Our children should not be used as guinea pigs. It's time to update the law to protect them.”
The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign is spearheading the effort to reform TSCA by helping to pass smart federal policies that protect us from toxic chemicals. They are asking Congress to make sure that this reform of chemical policy includes:
- Immediate action on the worst chemicals
- Manufacturers required to provide basic information on the health hazards associated with their chemicals
- Children, workers, pregnant women, and other vulnerable populations should be made a priority
- Use of the best science and methods
- Chemical manufacturers responsible for demonstrating the safety of their products, not the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Reduction of the disproportionate burden of toxic chemical exposure placed on people of color, low-income people and indigenous communities
- EPA work with other agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that have jurisdiction over some chemical exposure
- National support for basic and applied research into green chemistry, engineering and policy to promote safer alternatives
- Public, workers and marketplace should have full access to information about the health and environmental hazards of a chemical and how a government safety decision is made
If you would like to know more about TSCA reform, please go to The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families website. You can also take action by writing Congress and asking them to support the strongest possible legislation to reform the nation’s toxic chemical law.
The Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Campaign contributed to this article.
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