We've Come a Long Way...
When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) became law in 1976, it was revolutionary, but today the now middle-aged TSCA is somewhat retrograde, having not kept up with modern science. Its up to all of us who care about toxics reform to keep the issue alive until change happens.
When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) became law in 1976, smoking was permitted in hospitals and airplanes, there were no laws requiring adults or children to wear seat belts, and lead was still being added to gasoline. TSCA was revolutionary when it was passed, but today the now middle-aged TSCA is somewhat retrograde, having not kept up with modern science. A growing coalition of public health professionals, medical practitioners, environmental advocates, and parents concerned about their children's health have been calling on the government to fix these flaws. Thanks in large part to the concern of the general public and the actions taken by states like Oregon to limit people's exposures to toxic chemicals, significant changes to TSCA are finally being formally debated on Capitol Hill.
Last week, Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) unveiled the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act (HR 5820), the strongest bill ever introduced to protect our families from toxic chemicals. It would, for the first time, require the chemical industry to provide basic health and safety information for all chemicals and ensure that chemicals meet a health standard before they end up in our homes, schools, and workplaces. The Toxic Chemical Safety Act follows a similar bill introduced in the Senate in April by Senator Lautenburg (D-NJ) called the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010. There was a public hearing on the House bill today, which you can watch here.
It is heartening to see this spark of federal action on this issue—but we're not there yet. While the bill introduction and hearing are definitely worth celebrating, we are still a long way—and likely many years away—from passing a bill with the needed changes to protect our families from exposures to toxic chemicals. Its up to all of us who care about toxics reform to keep the issue at the top of newsfeeds—and on the top of our elected representatives' to-do lists. Ask your elected representative to support TSCA reform, make changes in your own life to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals, and be on the lookout for more innovative solutions from OEC and our partners working on this issue in the coming months.
