Hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee - Environmental Protection Agency Authority Over Toxic Flame Retardant Chemicals

Hearing

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) delivered the following remarks today at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing on Environmental Protection Agency authority over toxic flame retardant chemicals:

"A typical American baby is born with some of the highest concentrations of flame retardants in the world.

"Even children born in areas with clean air, clean water, and far from Superfund sites are born with these industrial chemicals in their bodies.

"Many chemical flame retardants are highly toxic. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, developmental problems, and other diseases.

"Children born with high concentrations of flame retardants can suffer for the rest of their lives.

"First, high levels of these chemicals put newborns at greater risk of low birth weights and birth defects. Then, in childhood, they face reductions in IQ and problems with fine motor skills.

"Even in adulthood, women who were born with flame retardants in their blood can have trouble becoming pregnant.

"Our exposure comes from a number of sources, but one of the largest sources in household dust. It's no wonder: our homes are packed with products containing flame retardants. The average couch alone contains more than two pounds of these flame retardant chemicals.

"This spring, the Chicago Tribune exposed how some in the chemical industry have used dirty tricks and junk science to drive a public misinformation campaign that keeps dangerous flame retardants in our homes, even when those chemicals don't do what they are supposed to: prevent fires.

"The industry has been accused of bankrolling so-called experts to invent stories that spout the company line, all in the service of protecting their profits, and all at the expense of our safety and health.

"Many countries require chemicals like flame retardants to be tested and proven safe before they end up in stores and then in our homes. But not in the United States.

"That's why Senator Snowe and I recently sent a bipartisan letter to EPA, signed by 24 of our Senate colleagues, urging the agency to take action on a class of flame retardants.

"Our letter also called for real reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act.

"Because let's be clear: flame retardants are just one example of the problems with our system of regulating chemicals.

"Studies by CDC scientists found 212 industrial chemicals, including six linked to cancer, coursing through Americans' bodies.

"But in nearly 35 years, EPA has been able to regulation only five substances using the tools in TSCA.

"My TSCA reform bill, the Safe Chemicals Act, will simply require chemical makers to demonstrate that their products are safe before they end up in our bodies.

"Most of the thousands of chemicals we use every day are safe, but this bill will separate those safe chemicals from the ones that are not.

"We first began examining the problems with TSCA in 2005, so I am proud that this committee will vote tomorrow on my Safe Chemicals Act.

"I believe today's hearing will add further evidence that we cannot delay any longer.

"It is time to finally fix this law once and for all, and protect our families from toxic chemicals."

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