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Statement

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director of MomsRising.org, On The Safe Chemicals Act of 2013

April 10, 2013

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

America’s Moms Commend Senators Lautenberg and Gillibrand for Introducing the Safe Chemicals Act to Protect Families from Toxic Substances
“Today, Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stood up for America’s moms and their families by introducing The Safe Chemicals Act. This bill would protect families and children from dangerous toxic chemicals that are found in everyday consumer products, like toys, furniture and even canned foods.
 
“The passage of The Safe Chemicals Act is crucial for American families. The current chemicals legislation, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has not been updated since 1976. When it was passed, many of the chemicals presently in use didn’t even exist. The public knew little about the dangers of many of these chemicals – how they can migrate from the everyday products like canned goods, furniture, toys and plastics into our bodies. In recent years, the Federal Centers for Disease Control have found that the blood or tissues of almost every American carry hundreds of these chemicals, some present even before birth.
 
“Our current, out-of-date system leaves us exposed to countless toxic substances on a daily basis. These chemicals put our families at risk for cancer, learning disabilities, infertility and worse.
 
“At MomsRising.org, we have more than a million members, many of whom have expressed their support for comprehensive toxic chemical reform. MomsRising.org joins a chorus of powerful voices in the health world calling for the overhaul of TSCA, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association. We know that updating the law is imperative.     
 
“The Safe Chemicals Act would safeguard families by increasing the safety of chemicals used in everyday products, protecting the most vulnerable among us like pregnant women and children, limiting the use of 'bad actor' chemicals, and providing incentives for companies to use safer, eco-friendly chemicals.   
 
“Congress must get serious about controlling the use of toxic chemicals now. We urge the Senate to vote for The Safe Chemicals Act so it moves to the House for consideration.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.