WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate will hear testimony from key government agencies related to the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the law that governs chemical use and safety at the federal level. The Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Government Accountability Office will testify in support of the need for Congress to strengthen TSCA so that the government has better authority to prevent unsafe chemicals from entering the marketplace, amid health and safety concerns by consumers, businesses and state governments.
WHO: The three witnesses testifying will be:
Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency;
Linda Birnbaum, Director of NIEHS;
John Stevenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO
WHEN: Wednesday, December 2, 2:30 p.m. EST
WHERE: Environment & Public Works Room – 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Andy Igrejas, Campaign Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign, a coalition of diverse groups united by their common concern about toxic chemicals in our homes, places of work, and products we use every day.
[email protected], 202-549-3958
Said Igrejas, “There is growing concern from an array of voices about how our weak federal law is unable to prevent human exposure to toxic chemicals on a daily basis. Both state and federal officials are calling on Congress to eliminate the most dangerous chemicals and to take action to ensure chemicals are safe before they enter the marketplace. The time is right to enact strong reform to our toxic chemical laws, so that we can better protect our health and our children.”