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Senate passes final reform bill – headed to president’s desk

Andy-Igrejas_avatar_1439233026-170x170Statement from Andy Igrejas, the Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Tonight, the Senate passed the legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that passed the House on May 24th. Senator Paul lifted the hold he had placed on the bill, clearing the path for a final vote. The bill now heads to the President’s desk, where it is certain to be signed.

Andy Igrejas, the director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a broad coalition of health, environmental, labor and business organizations, had the following statement.

“Tonight’s vote marks the end of a very long and difficult process. The final bill gives EPA important new powers to require chemical testing and to take action to restrict priority chemicals. The pace will be slow, however, and the bill has other limitations. It is important for the public to remain engaged as EPA implements the new reforms.

We thank Senator Boxer, in particular, for her leadership, especially in preserving authority for states to take action. We agree with her that states retain the ability to lead the way on the many chemicals that EPA won’t get to under the bill.

The organizations in our coalition represent millions of families who are dealing with the burden of disease and disability caused by toxic chemicals. This bill falls short of their expectations, though it should help. To get the change we need, we must all continue to press the moral urgency of reducing the harm caused by toxic chemicals at all levels of government, in the public square, in the marketplace, and in corporate boardrooms across the world.”

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Stephanie Stohler, [email protected]

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