Lautenberg Introduces Safe Chemicals Bill

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) introduced legislation which would modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The TSCA is supposed to limit the exposure Americans have to dangerous toxins.

Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, wants to require chemical manufactures to demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals which are used in household products.

“The average American has more than 200 industrial chemicals in their body, including dozens linked to cancer and other health problems," said Lautenberg. "The shocking truth is that the current law does not require tests to ensure chemicals used in everyday household products are safe."

Lautenberg’s “Safe Chemicals Act of 2011” would require safety testing of all industrial chemicals, putting the burden on industry to prove that chemicals are safe in order to get on or stay on the market. 

Under current policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can only call for safety testing after evidence surfaces demonstrating a chemical is dangerous. The new legislation will give EPA more power to regulate the use of dangerous chemicals and require manufacturers to submit information proving the safety of every chemical in production and any new chemical seeking to enter the market. 

Lautenberg chaired a series of hearings to solicit feedback from chemical industry leaders, public officials, scientists, doctors, academics, and non-profit organizations after introducing similar legislation last year.  Based on that feedback, Lautenberg made several changes to improve the bill.  

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). 

The text of the bill can be found here and a full summary of the bill can be found  here. Lautenberg also released a video about the proposed legislation.