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Much-Needed Legislation Would Protect Americans from Unsafe Chemicals

Washington, DC – Led by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), 29 senators today introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013. The legislation would provide long overdue fixes to the nation’s broken chemical policies and limit the use of unsafe chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses.

Andy Igrejas, executive director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition of 450 health, environment, business and labor groups said:

"Americans across the political spectrum have woken up to the fact that unregulated toxic chemicals get into their homes and their bodies. It is uniformly unnerving. The Safe Chemicals Act would establish common sense limits on these chemicals that are broadly popular and long overdue."

Similar to a bill cleared by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the 112th Congress, the Safe Chemicals Act would go a long way toward protecting Americans from chemicals before they are linked to reproductive and developmental disorders, cancers and other illnesses that are costly to treat and often preventable. Specifically, it would:

• Require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify and restrict the "worst of the worst" chemicals.
• Require basic health and safety information for chemicals as a condition for entering or remaining on the market.
• Upgrade scientific methods for assessing chemical safety.
• Arm the EPA with the authority it needs to restrict chemicals that pose health and environmental concerns.

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For more information, contact: Tony Iallonardo, at tonyiallonardo@saferchemicals.org or 202-503-8581.

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2011

Safe Chemicals Act Hearing Builds Momentum for Reform

Washington, DC - Today's Senate hearing on the Safe Chemicals Act was a milestone in the reform effort. Infertility, cancer, and learning disabilities are just some of the health problems linked to toxic chemicals that touch millions of American families. Senators should know that all those families are rooting for their success when they take this issue on.

Senator Lautenberg and Senator Inhofe deserve enormous credit for the dialogue they have undertaken on reform over the last several months and the rare bipartisan atmosphere it has created for this issue on Capitol Hill. Because of that work, there is an enormous opportunity that both parties can seize to make a difference in people's lives. We're encouraged by the statements made by Senators on both sides.

"Senators Lautenberg and Inhofe deserve enormous credit for the dialogue they have undertaken on reform over the last several months..."

We were also encouraged by the very constructive comments of the Consumer Specialty Products Association which represents some of America's best known companies and brands, like Procter and Gamble and SC Johnson. Perhaps because these companies sell directly to consumers they recognize the economic costs of the current collapse of confidence in our federal safety regulations.

The only disappointment in the hearing was the comments of the American Chemistry Council, the main trade group for chemical makers. We hope members of the American Chemistry Council can soon recognize the opportunity to make progress on reform and work constructively with the committee to achieve it in a bipartisan way.

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For more information please contact Trevor FitzGibbon at 202.406.0646, Trevor@FitzGibbonMedia.com

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition represents more than 11 million individuals and includes parents, health professionals, advocates for people with learning and developmental disabilities, reproductive health advocates, environmentalists and businesses from across the nation. For more information visit our website at www.saferchemicals.org.

April 25, 2011 CNN: Pediatricians urge tougher chemical safety law

April 25, 2011 Reuters Health: Pediatricians call for stricter laws for chemicals

April 25, 2011 USA Today: Pediatricians seek better regulation of toxins

April 25, 2011 The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Supports Crucial Protection from Dangerous Toxic Chemicals

April 19, 2011 Groups seek reform of toxic substances act

April 19, 2011 Landmark Senate Bill Aims to Reform Toxic Chemicals Regulation

April 19, 2011 Mother Nature News: Lautenberg introduces Safe Chemicals Act

April 14, 2011 Congress Renews Debate Over U.S. Chemical Policy Reform

April 14, 2011 "Safe Chemicals Act of 2011" Introduced Today: Legislation Would Protect American Families from Toxic Chemicals

February 1, 2011 Congress Gears Up Debate Over 35 Year-Old Chemical Law – Broad Coalition Urges Public Health Approach

January 18, 2011 30 States Nationwide to Announce Upcoming Bills to Protect Kids and Families from Toxic Chemicals on Wed. Jan 19

November 8, 2010 States Across the Nation Are Passing Sweeping Chemical Safety Laws, While Congress Lags Behind

October 26, 2010 Lautenberg hearing with CNN's Sanjay Gupta highlights chemical threats to children

September 14, 2010 New Polling Data Indicates Overwhelming Public Support for Chemicals Regulation

August 31, 2010Environmental Council on States Today Passed Resolution Calling for Sweeping Federal Chemical Policy Reform

July 29, 2010 Plastics News: ACC’s Dooley pans proposed chemical safety standard

July 29, 2010 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Chemical Nation: It’s time for an effective federal law

July 28, 2010 UPI.com: Group urges passage of chemical bill

July 23, 2010 GreenBiz.com: U.S. House Takes up Toxic Chemical Reform Bill

July 23, 2010 Chemical & Engineering News: TSCA Reform Bill Introduced

June 2010 Chemical Watch: Chemical Watch briefing: US downstream users seek changes to TSCA proposals

June, 2010 Chemical Watch: U.S. House member Bobby Rush speaks out for TSCA reform: Environmental toxins: No more guessing (PDF)

June 28, 2010 Los Angeles Times: The Los Angeles Times editorializes on chemical reform

June 17, 2010 Cleveland.com: Head of American Nurses Association says, Stop contamination before it starts

June 10, 2010 EDF’s Richard Dennison blogs: Dispersants are a teachable moment for TSCA reform

June 9, 2010 NRDC: NRDC’s Daniel Rosenberg asks Congress: Re-write the law to protect people from unsafe chemicals

May 11, 2010 Cleveland Plain Dealer: Congress to tackle environmental toxins in revision of 1976 federal chemical regulations

May 4, 2010 Houston Chronicle: Is this good for you? Are you eating bisphenol A?

April 22, 2010 RH Reality Check: The Battle Over BPA

April 22, 2010 Alternet: We need garbage equity and improve regulation of toxins

April 21, 2010 Huffington Post: Kid-Safe Chemicals: News to Use – For All of Us

April 21, 2010 NRDC: Great Opportunity to Protect American Families from Toxic Chemicals

April 20, 2010 The Dake Page: So what happens to the TSCA Inventory under the new Safe Chemicals Act?

April 20, 2010 7GenBlog: Dr Alan Greene explains historic toxic chemical reform

April 19, 2010 Uprising Radio: New Bill on Regulating Toxic Chemicals Shows Promise

April 19, 2010 Huffington Post: To Detox Your Body, Detox Our World

April 17, 2010 Nontoxique Beauty Blog: Introduction of Senator Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act 2010 shows someone is paying attention

April 16, 2010 TIME: Regulation of Toxic Chemicals Faces Tightening

April 16, 2010 Consumer Affairs: Senate Bill Would Revamp Toxic Chemicals Regulation

April 16, 2010 Local15 TV: Industry Must Prove Safety Under Proposed Safe Chemicals Act

April 16, 2010 Natural Foods Merchandiser: New Safe Chemicals Act Introduced

April 16, 2010 Environmental Protection Online: Manufacturers Must Test Chemical Safety in New TSCA Bills

April 16, 2010 Conservation Value Notes: Chemical Reform Safety Gains Momentum In Congress

April 16, 2010 Brownfield Ag News for America: Chemical law reform in the works

April 16, 2010 The Hill: Hazardous chemicals law overhaul would increase power of federal regulators

April 16, 2010 PAN North America: Chemical Policy Reform

April 16, 2010 EHS Today: Congress Introduces Safe Chemicals Act to Reform U.S. Chemical Management

April 16, 2010 American Council on Science and Health: Dispatch: TSCA "Reform"

April 16, 2010 Chemical Watch: Fundamental TSCA reform proposals hit US Congress (Subscription Only)

April 16, 2010 Chemical Watch: US stakeholders react to TSCA reform proposals (Subscription Only)

April 16, 2010 WBZTV: Maine Lauds Federal Chemicals Bill

April 16, 2010 Chemistry World: Congress proposes toxic chemical regulation reforms

April 16, 2010 The New York Times: Lawmakers Seek to Move Quickly on New Toxics Bill, but Challenges Remain

April 15, 2010 Washington Post: Lautenberg bill seeks to overhaul U.S. chemical laws

April 15, 2010 The New York Times: Sen. Lautenberg Introduces Chemicals Reform Bill, Saying Current Regulation 'Is Broken'

April 15, 2010 Green Biz: Chemical Reform Bill Would Shift Burden of Proof to Industry

April 15, 2010 Dr. Greene: Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Introduced Today

April 15, 2010 BlueGreen Alliance: BlueGreen Alliance Praises TSCA Reform Effort

April 15, 2010 Washington State Department of Ecology: States Support Reform of Federal Toxic Law

April 15, 2010 Healthy Child Healthy World: Senator Lautenberg Introduces “Safe Chemicals Act”

April 15, 2010 The Hill: Democrats push overhaul of chemical laws

April 15, 2010 Environmental News Service: Industry Must Prove Safety Under Proposed Safe Chemicals Act

April 15, 2010 ScienceInsider: Chemical Safety Reform Gains Momentum in Congress

April 15, 2010 Huffington Post: Countdown to Earth Day: Chemical Reform is Closer Today!

April 15, 2010 EDF: Not just kids' play any more: TSCA reform gets serious

April 15, 2010 The Soft Landing: Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Will Require Safety Testing for Chemicals

March 8, 2010 Scientific American editorializes in support of TSCA reform.

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition Press Releases

Autism Society: Autism Society Applauds the Introduction of the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2011”

American Nurses Association: ANA Urgues Support For Safe Chemicals Act Of 2011

Center for International Environmental Law: CIEL Applauds Proposed Overhaul of U.S. Chemicals Law

Environmental Justice and Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform: Chemical Reform Urgent for People of Color and Low Income Communities

JustGreen Partnership: "Safe Chemicals Act of 2011" Introduced!

League of Conservation Voters: LCV Statement on Introduction of Safe Chemicals Act

Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health: Bill to Protect Families from Toxic Chemicals Introduced (PDF)

NRDC: Toxic Substances Control Reform Bill Can Repair Broken Chemical Law

Oregon Environmental Council: Federal Chemical Legislation Introduced Today “Safe Chemicals Act of 2011” Introduced in Senate

Reproductive Health Technologies Project: Safe Chemicals Act of 2011: Press Kit

U.S. PIRG: Washington, D.C.: Senator Lautenberg Introduces Bill to Protect Public health, Reform Toxics Policy

Women's Voices for the Earth: Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 Introduced: Passage would protect women's health, experts say