Recent News Coverage
February 8, 2016
Science for Sale: how industry-funded research undercuts health protections.
BELLEVUE, Ohio — At 2:15 in the morning, an insomniac corporate defense lawyer in San Francisco finished crafting a “revolutionary” scientific theory. Now Evan Nelson of the law firm Tucker Ellis & West needed a scientist willing to publish it in a medical journal. If his theory were given scientific validity, Nelson could use it to win lawsuits.
June 8, 2015
Will U.S. weaken chemical safety standards?
Fifty-two years ago, when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring became a best-seller, there were 62,000 chemicals in commerce. In a 1963 CBS News report about her book, she eloquently warned of the dangers of these chemicals. Today, there are 84,000 chemicals on the market, with more every year.
April 26, 2015
Senate bill goes wrong way on toxic-chemical rules
An unlikely alliance of the chemical industry and some environmental groups has formed to support a bipartisan proposal to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.
April 19, 2015
Fix chemical safety bill to honor Lautenberg, protect the public: Editorial
Few people realize that while pharmaceuticals have to go through rigorous testing before being introduced to the public, that's not true of the chemicals in your household cleaners, furniture and baby toys...
Smart Policy Reform News
Blog Post, June 12, 2015
Say no to toxic chemical shell game
A decade of pressure by parents, doctors, scientists, businesses and state governments has created momentum to finally fix the broken federal law governing chemicals used in commerce, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, which has allowed thousands of hazardous and untested chemicals to be widely used in everyday consumer products.
News Release, March 31, 2015
Advocates from more than 50 environmental justice, health, sustainable business and community organizations delivered a letter to the United States Senate in opposition to S. 697, which could block states from taking new actions to protect consumers and communities from exposure to toxic chemicals.
Blog Post, March 28, 2015
A toxic shell game: New Mexico deserves better
(New Mexico) A decade of pressure by parents, doctors, scientists and state governments has created momentum to finally fix the broken federal law governing chemicals used in commerce, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which has allowed thousands of hazardous and untested chemicals to be widely used in everyday consumer products.
News Release, March 11, 2015
(New York, NY) A new bill that claims to update how chemicals are regulated in the United States, introduced today by Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Tom Udall (D-NM), is a sweet deal for the chemical industry that would keep exposing Americans to harmful chemicals while exposing the nation to billions in health care costs, a coalition of community, environmental and health groups said today.
Blog Post, March 30, 2014
Why the House TSCA Reform Bill is a Very Bad Bill
On February 27, Congressman John Shimkus (R-Illinois) and other House Republicans introduced the “Chemicals in Commerce Act” (CICA), a draft companion bill to the “Chemical Safety Improvement Act” (CSIA) in the Senate to change the way toxic chemicals are regulated.
News Release, March 11, 2014
(Washington, DC) The Environment and Economy Subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is having a hearing tomorrow (3/12/14) at 10:00 am in Room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building to discuss a draft bill, called “The Chemicals in Commerce Act,” that would weaken regulations on toxic chemicals.
News Release, March 3, 2014
New Republican House Bill “Chemicals in Commerce Act” (CICA) Promotes Environmental Racism
(Washington, DC) A new bill introduced by House Republican John Shimkus (R-Illinois) with the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, called “The Chemicals in Commerce Act,” would insure that regulations on toxic chemicals continue to disproportionately harm people of color.
News Release, December 21, 2013
Toxic Fumes Engulf Mossville Community; Axiall explosion and fire worse than reported
(Mossville, LA) Although Axiall corporate and local government officials announced the “all clear” for Friday’s fire at the Axiall plant in Westlake, Louisiana, nearby residents say that the toxic smoke from the fire was overwhelming, threatening, and that contamination in the community goes beyond short term smoke in the area.
News Advisory, November 12, 2013
Toxic Chemical Protections? Not Likely in House Hearing
(Washington, DC) The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy is holding a hearing Wednesday on “chemical safety,” to address the Senate bill for reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). On May 22, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA) (S. 1009) was introduced in the United States Senate to update the failed TSCA framework.
News Release, July 30, 2013
Toxic Chemical Reform; Senate hearing investigates how to fix broken chemical safety system
(Washington, DC) The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is convening a hearing tomorrow called “Strengthening Public Health Protections by Addressing Toxic Chemical Threats,” with panels of experts addressing the complex issues regarding toxic chemicals exposure.
News Release, June 4, 2013
(Washington, DC) With the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), the environmental health community mourns the death of the first Senate champion for comprehensive health protections in toxic chemical reform.
News Release, June 3, 2013
(Washington, DC) A letter was received today by Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and others asking for true protections for health in the new Senate engagement for reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). On May 22, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA) (S. 1009) was introduced in the United States Senate to update the failed TSCA framework.
News Release, May 23, 2013
(Washington, DC) Michele Roberts and Richard Moore, spokespersons for the Environmental Justice and Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform, provide these comments on the “Chemical Safety Improvement Act” introduced yesterday by Senators Frank Lautenberg and David Vitter.
News Release, July 25, 2012
(Washington, DC) The United States Senate resisted tens of millions of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions from the chemical industry to pass the Safe Chemicals Act out of a key committee. This bill would reform the Toxic Substance Control Act, for the first time since 1976.
News Release, April 15, 2011
Safe Chemicals Act of 2011; Good for business
(Washington DC) The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) announced today that it supports Congress to help rebuild the economy and create a new wave of jobs and innovation through the use of green chemistry and sustainable materials with production away from hazardous chemicals.
News Release, December 12, 2008
Dozens of health advocacy groups concerned about growing rates of asthma, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, thyroid disease and other diseases of environmental origin, said today that they look forward to supporting President Elect-Obama’s new EPA Director with expertise and information for solutions to the urgent threat of toxic chemical contamination.
News Release, November 20, 2008
(Washington, DC) Physicians, scientists, health advocates, and parents groups hold great optimism and high expectations for the Obama administration in addressing toxics issues, and its ability to choose administrative staff who will prioritize public health, worker safety and a clean environment. Today, they submitted their pleas for a halt to the urgent chemical exposure crisis in the U.S. and the world, and to the attacks on scientific integrity that have been used to delay a remedy, and have submitted their ideas on what to do about it to the Obama Change.gov website that has been set up to receive input for the new administration. Specific ideas submitted by the group include: prevention of exposure from known dangerous chemicals, public disclosure of chemistry in products, protection for scientists, and transforming the chemical economy to a green collar economy.