The Safe Chemicals Act: The states weigh in

— filed under: BPA, Chemical Industry, Safer Chemicals, Heavy Metals, Safer Products, PBTs, Safe Chemicals Act of 2010

This month, the Safe Chemicals Act was introduced in Congress. This bill will overhaul the Toxic Substances Chemicals Act -- the decades-old law that regulates toxic chemical use in this country. Our Safer States coalition partners weigh in.

The Safe Chemicals Act: The states weigh in

This post originally published on Safer States.

This month, the Safe Chemicals Act was introduced into Congress. This bill will be the overhaul to the Toxic Substances Chemicals Act -- the decades-old law that regulates toxic chemical use in this country. Time magazine said it well when the author reminded us that when this law was passed, "Gerald Ford was still President and Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was the No. 1 song of the year."

The Safe Chemicals Act will oversee regulation of Bisphenol-A (BPA), flame retardants, and other toxic chemicals which have proven health effects on babies, children, and vulnerable populations.

You can join us in supporting a strong Safe Chemicals Act by taking action and informing your legislators that you are concerned about protecting the health of your family.

Laurie Valeriano posted here heralding the successes of the bill and expressing disappointment with a few ways that the bill is missing the mark. This week, many other state coalition members chimed in. Below are a few of the comments about the Safe Chemicals Act.

There are many communities, especially communities of color, tribal lands, and low-income communities, where people are dying at extraordinary rates because of toxic chemical exposure. This bill, for the first time, would give EPA authority to identify these communities and protect them from major sources of toxic chemicals.

- Mark Mitchell, MD, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice.

It's high time we closed the gap between what scientists say is safe, and what our government allows on supermarket shelves. This bill represents a major advance toward giving American families the peace of mind they've been seeking.

- Maureen Swanson, Learning Disabilities Association of America.

Washington state has been a national leader in policies that protect our families but we can’t continue to go it alone. We’re urging Washington’s Congressional Delegation to support the Safe Chemicals Act and ensure it’s an effective federal tool to complement our local safe product laws.

- Cherie Eicholz, executive director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Exposure to these chemicals can impact the developing brain of the fetus, infant and young child with resulting lifelong learning problems. The State of Maine has been a national leader in policies that protect our families but we can’t continue to go it alone. We’re urging Maine’s Congressional Delegation to support the Safe Chemicals Act and ensure it’s an effective federal tool to complement our local safe product laws.

- Sandy Cort, Learning Disabilities Association of Maine.

Minnesota has shown that strong action on toxic chemicals is politically possible. Congress should follow our lead.

- Meredith Salmi of Arc Greater Twin Cities, Healthy Legacy coalition member (pdf).

These bills provide an excellent starting place to strengthen EPA’s authority to protect the public. If this legislation fulfills its promise, we can hope to see a decline in cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, infertility and other disease associated with exposure to these chemicals. Reducing such health problems will improve and lengthen lives as well as reduce the costs of healthcare.

- Daniel Rosenberg, Senior Attorney, NRDC Health & Environment Program.

The Safe Chemicals Act offers a long overdue opportunity to fix our badly broken chemical safety system, which has failed to protect public health or keep up with the latest science. This national bill is particularly important to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children and women of child-bearing age, and for Alaskans who are exposed to chemicals that travel northward from more southerly latitudes and settle in the Arctic.

- Pam Miller, Executive Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (pdf).

Massachusetts lawmakers should take advantage of this moment to move forward with state level reforms that complement the national debate and assist our businesses in this transition towards twenty--first century clean tech development.

- Cindy Luppi, Clean Water Action New England Co-Director.

It’s shocking that the chemicals in our every day products are not tested for safety. Research has shown that these chemicals are harming the reproductive health and fertility of women, men and children. We deserve better—and this bill is a big step in the right direction,” said Jenn Rogers, Programs and Policy Director of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project. “This bill also presents a profound opportunity to protect the most vulnerable among us, from pregnant women and children to communities disproportionately affected by toxic chemicals.

- Jenn Rogers, Programs & Policy Director of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

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