Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) announced the passage in the House yesterday of HR 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which modernizes the Toxic Substances Control Act to institute more rigorous oversight of thousands of chemicals that are used commercially.
[private]“Given the frightening experiences of residents in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh, where a chemical used in manufacturing has contaminated public water systems and private wells and raised serious concerns about long-term health impacts, I am proud to have joined my colleagues in passing this bipartisan bill to bring EPA standards up to date, modernize the approach to chemical testing, and better protect our people,” said Congressman Gibson. “This bill affirms what I told the EPA Administrator earlier this year: We need more regular testing of commercially used chemicals to keep pace with scientific advances and provide consumers with the best information possible. What transpired in Rensselaer County is totally unacceptable, and we can’t let it happen in more communities.”
HR 2576, which passed the House 403-12, updates the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act by removing barriers to repeat chemical testing, mandating safety reviews of chemicals already in use, making more information available to the public, limiting animal testing whenever reliable alternatives exist, and setting deadlines for EPA decisions and compliance with restrictions, among other initiatives.
The bill also incorporates Trevor’s Law, the Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities from Disease Clusters Act, which requires the EPA to designate and investigate clusters of cancer patients across the country.
The full text of HR 2576 can be found at: http://1.usa.gov/1sPWvzd.[/private]