I’m pleased to let you know that I am working with my Congressional colleagues, including Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA), to protect Americans, especially children, from toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.  I am cosponsoring legislation that would mandate that all the chemicals used in baby bottles, children’s toys and other consumer products be proven to be safe before they are put on the market.

Currently, about 80,000 chemicals are used to produce the products we use every day in our homes. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has only required testing of 200 of these. This lack of testing and regulation puts people in danger, especially our children, whose bodies and brains are growing at remarkable rates.  As just one example, only recently have we discovered the link between Bisphenol A, a chemical used to make baby bottles and water bottles less brittle, and a host of medical problems, including cancer and reproductive issues.

The Kid Safe Chemical Act (S.3040) would establish a safety standard for each chemical on the market. It would also shift the burden for proving chemicals are safe from EPA to the chemical manufacturers.  Under the bill, the manufacturers would have to provide the EPA the data necessary to determine if a chemical is safe.  The bill would give new authority to EPA to restrict the use of any chemical that fails to meet the EPA’s safety standard.

Shifting the burden of proof to favor the safety of consumer products is my aim in cosponsoring this legislation.  And one of my main goals is to ensure that our children can grow strong without exposure to dangerous chemicals. I hope you join me in supporting this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator