Udall-Vitter Toxic Chemical “Safety” Bill Does not go far enough

Today, the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the Vitter-Udall Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. We stand strongly in opposition to the bill because it undermines state action to protect public health from toxic chemical exposure while falling far short of doing so itself.

Dangerous chemicals are in the products we use every day. The scientific evidence linking common chemicals to the health problems that burden American families is overwhelming. The primary law responsible for ensuring chemicals are safe – the Toxic Substances Control Act – was passed by Congress in 1976 and has never been updated. While TSCA reform is well overdue, this bill falls woefully short of protecting public health from toxic chemical exposure.

There is an opportunity for landmark reform in Washington this year that provides greater protection of health and safety while also providing regulated industry with a rational and predictable system.

Thankfully Maryland leaders are stepping up to weigh in on the proposal and protect public health from toxic chemicals.

The Maryland General Assembly has restricted six different toxic chemicals in the last six years including heavy metals, toxic flame retardants, and phthalates. And states across the country have taken similar and stronger actions to protect their people. Yesterday, 15 Maryland legislators sent a letter to Senator Cardin, supporting his efforts to negotiate for stronger reform and to defend the MGA’s ability to regulate toxic chemicals.

Senator Cardin has long been a champion on this issue, negotiating to improve the proposed legislation over previous years. Today he spoke of compromise, and worked to build consensus around the need to remove the measures in the draft that preempt state action and co-enforcement.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh joined the conversation in DC, testifying in opposition to preemption and co-enforcement measures in the bill that undermine states’ ability regulate and enforce regulations to “protect the people from poison.” He joins eight other Attorneys General, representing the majority of people in the country, to speak up against these measures in the bill. Read his letter here.

Maryland PIRG, our federal office USPIRG, and environmental and public health groups from around the country have also weighed in in opposition to this bill, and we’ll be doing everything we can to protect public health from toxic chemical exposure. For more information on the details of the bill, check out this blog from our friends at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. You can also loop in to the conversation on Twitter at #TSCA.