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Congressional/Executive Updates

CONGRESS 2011

Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Environment and Public Works Committee hearing "Assessing the Effectiveness of U.S. Chemical Safety Laws" held Thursday, February 3, 2011.
The Subcommittee wanted to hear from government officials, environmentalists and industry officials about concerns about the safety of the country’s chemicals and proposed legislation.
Speakers included:
 (1) The Honorable Steve Owens, Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, United States Environmental Protection Agency
(2) Ms. Kelly M. Semrau , Senior Vice President for Global Corporate Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability, SC Johnson
(3) Mr. Steve Goldberg, VP and Associate General Counsel, BASF
(4) Ms. Frances Beinecke, President. Natural Resources Defense Council
(5) Mr. Cal Dooley, President, American Chemistry Council
(6) Dean Lynn Goldman, Dean George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services

2010 BILLS INTRODUCED

The Senate and House bills on chemical policy reform (S 3209 and HR 5820 respectively) are a part of the unfinished business still before the 111^th Congress prior to its recess before the mid-term elections.  Senator Lautenberg introduced S 3209 in April and Congressmen Bobby Rush and Henry Waxman introduced HR 5820on July 22.  Although the bills differ in details, they both seek to reform U.S. chemical policy and would overhaul the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has failed to regulate chemicals in consumer products – even those that have known links to cancer, learning disabilities, asthma, reproductive disorders, and other serious health problems. Both bills still require important legislative steps prior to a conference committee and/or passage.  For more information about the bills, see http://www.saferchemicals.org/safe-chemicals-act/.

2010 Congressional Hearings

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Investigation of EPA's Children's Health Program

On Wednesday, March 17, 2010 the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public works heard testimony on Government Accountability Office (GAO) Investigation of EPA's Children's Health Program. The role of the federal government in investgating children's health issues was investigated by the testimony. Strengthening protections for children was a focus of the hearing. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) provided testimony on the federal government's role in investigating children's health issues and how that can be improved.

There were two panels of witnesses:

Panel 1

Peter Grevatt Ph.D.;John Stephenson

Panel 2

Gina Solomon M.D., M.P.H; Cynthia F. Bearer M.D., Ph.D.Ted Schettler M.D.

For links to witness testimony and archived webcast, Click here

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Drinking Water: Risks to Human Health and the Environment

On Thursday, February 25, 2010 the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce heard testimony on "Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Drinking Water: Risks to Human Health and the Environment". The hearing examined the science and regulation of endocrine disruptees found in the sources of drinking water.

Witnesses: Jim Jones; Linda S.Brinbaum; Gina Solomon; Christopher J.Borgert

For links to witness testimony and archived webcast,  Click here

Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals

On Thursday, February 4th, 2010, the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public works held a hearing on exposures to toxic chemicals. Scientist testified on the limitations and needed reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act. In particular the hearing illustrated the  advances in biomonitoring on toxic chemical reform debates, but also its limitations.

Government witnesses: Steve Owens, US EPA; Henry Falk, CDC; John Stephenson, US GAO; Linda Birnbaum, NIEHS

Non-governmental witnesses: Molly Jones Gray, Biomonitoring Study Participant; Ken Cook, Environmental Working Group; Charles McKay, Hartford Hospital;

Tracey J. Woodruff, University of California

For links to witness testimony and an archived webcast of the hearing, see

(http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=8a722315-802a-23ad-4e9a-b8477139e63f)

In addition to the Hearing, on February 4th, 2010, members of the Learning and Developmental Disability community released a new biomonitoring report, Mind, Disrupted: How Toxic Chemicals May Affect How We Think and Who We Are in Washington, DC. Several questions prompted the undertaking of this project: What role might environmental toxics play in undermining healthy development of the brain and nervous system? How might certain environmental pollutants exacerbate the health conditions of those who already have a learning, developmental or behavioral disorder? The report intends to spotlight these pressing questions and inspire prompt actions to reduce exposures that may impair how we think -- and, in the most basic ways, who we are. Twelve leaders and self-advocates from the learning and developmental disabilities community stepped forward to try and answer these questions by having their bodies tested for the presence of a set of know or suspected neurotoxic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Visit the new Mind, Disrupted website www.minddisrupted.org 

Read more aboutlearning and developmental disabilities partners (www.disabilityandenvironment.org)

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS

2011 Briefing on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Infertility; and Cancer

AAIDD with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, with sponsorship by  Senators Frank Lautenberg and Barbara Boxer hosted a briefing, Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm, in 406 Dirksen.

The nation's leading scientists and doctors (Dr Kirtley Jones, Dr, Tom Zoeller and Dr. Gina Solomon) discussed the links between toxic chemicals and cancer, infertility, and learning disabilities.

2010 Briefing on Learning and Developmental Disabilities Biomonitoring Project

On February 19, 2010 AAIDD participated in a noon-time briefing for Congressional members and staff in the Cannon House Building (3rd Floor). The informational briefing on LDDI and AAIDD's biomonitoring report focussed on toxic chemical pollution in people from the learning and developmental and disability community, and on the need for chemicals management reform. The report examines 61 toxic chemicals present in project participants in the context of rising rates of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other learning and developmental disabilities.

Speakers included:

Dr. Tom Zoeller; Maureen Swanson; Jeff Sell

To download report, visit www.minddisrupted.org