Posted on May 19, 2016
Senator Barbara Boxer, TSCA Press Conference, May 19, 2016
ADAO is pleased to report significant progress on legislative efforts to reform the failed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. After six years of advocacy efforts, we are finally rounding the corner and approaching the home stretch on successfully preventing the catastrophic consequences of TSCA from continuing. As a result of TSCA’s failure, asbestos remains legal in the United States, with as many as 15,000 Americans dying every year from asbestos-caused diseases.
Although there is more work to do to protect Americans from the more than 84,000 chemicals that have been grandfathered into commerce, there is hope on the horizon.
There have been many champions fighting to protect public health, consumer safety and our environment from asbestos and other hazardous chemicals. However Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) unyielding commitment to health and safety has been immeasurable.
In her recent press release, Sen. Boxer noted that she “fought hard to ensure that dangerous substances like asbestos are prioritized to get the attention they deserve from regulators. Asbestos is one of the most harmful substances known to humankind — it takes 10,000 lives a year. Asbestos should already be banned. I support an immediate ban, but the prioritization in this bill is a start.”
Additionally, she noted that “under our agreement, the states are free to act on any chemical until (the) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes a series of steps to regulate a specific chemical…our agreement clearly states that if the federal government does not complete the process to regulate a chemical within a 3.5 year period, then the states are free to act on that chemical. I believe our agreement is respectful of the federal government’s role and the state government’s role.”
You’ve been heard. We thank our entire asbestos community and volunteers for all of the hard work that has been done = to reach this landmark step forward to passing meaningful TSCA reform legislation.
Together, change is possible.
Linda