Posted on June 12, 2013
PRESS RELEASE: ADAO Outraged by Shortcomings of the Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013
ADAO wants YOUR voices to be heard:
Tweet, Facebook post, or email your Six-Word Asbestos Quote for Congress about mesothelioma or asbestos!
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 was designed to grant the Environmental Protection Agency with the authority “to regulate chemical substances and mixtures which present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, and to take action with respect to chemical substances and mixtures which are imminent hazards.”
Many will agree that TSCA is grossly outdated and is need of reform, as it fails to protect many Americans from over 85,000 toxic chemicals.
Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is responsible for the largest man-made environmental disaster. Americans need and deserve legislation to reform TSCA to prevent toxic exposures to eliminate disabilities and deaths. The facts are irrefutable, yet the United States continues to import asbestos to meet manufacturing needs.
Since 2005, Senator Frank Lautenberg was working to reform TSCA. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is deeply saddened by the death of Sen. Lautenberg, who died on June 3rd in New Jersey.
Although Sen. Lautenberg died with the TSCA reform incomplete, he did leave behind two bills intended to modernize TSCA and improve regulation of chemical substances in the United States:
- First, the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 696) – initially proposed by Lautenberg in 2011 (based on his 2005 efforts) and reintroduced in this legislative session on April 10, 2013. Upon its reintroduction, the bill was well received and strongly supported from the environmental and public health community. However, it was strongly opposed by the chemical industry.
- Secondly, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009), sponsored by Sen. Lautenberg and Sen. Vitter was introduced on May 22, 2013. The Lautenberg Vitter bill is deadly and actually increases the risk to toxic chemicals
ADAO is pleased to see bipartisanship in drafting legislation to prevent toxic exposures; however, ADAO cannot support the bill in its present form because it fails to protect the public from dangerous chemicals:
- S. 1009 excludes the words “pregnant woman” and “children” in the bill, as previous TSCA reform bills have. This eliminates protection of vulnerable people in society.
- S. 1009 excludes the word “asbestos,” language that ADAO urged senators to include in the bill.
- S. 1009 establishes no statutory deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency to review chemicals or take appropriate action.
While the chemical industry is pleased with the bill, ADAO and the majority of other environmental and public health organizations do not support the current language. As asbestos exposure continues, the need for legislation that protects the health of the public has never been more evident.
In unity,
Linda
Additional Resources:
ADAO Chemical Safety Improvement Act Letter to Chairman Shimkus and Ranking Member Tonko
NGO Chemical Safety Improvement Act Letter to Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Vitter
EWG: Wave of Opposition to Senate Chemicals Bill Swells from Public Interest Groups, Legal Scholars