Udall, Vitter Announce Growing Support for Chemical Safety Bill

With 4 new cosponsors, a total of 40 senators from over half the states now back landmark chemical reform legislation

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (N.M.) and David Vitter (R-La.) announced that four more senators have signed onto their bipartisan legislation to reform the nation's broken chemical safety law - bringing the total number of cosponsors to 40 senators representing 27 states. Udall and Vitter's bill, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, would overhaul the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 and finally ensure the American people are protected from chemicals sold in everyday products and used in manufacturing.

The new cosponsors are: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.).

"I want to thank our new cosponsors for their support to reform our nation's broken chemical law. Senators from over half the states are backing chemical safety reform because the American people want a working law that protects our families and communities," Udall said. "Momentum continues to build in both parties and in both houses of Congress, and I urge the Senate leaders to bring this bill to the floor for a vote soon to finally keep kids in New Mexico and across the country safe from dangerous chemicals."

"Support for the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is growing week by week - the bipartisan support is a sure sign that the time to reform the outdated, ineffective TSCA is now," said Vitter. "We're excited that more and more of our colleagues support passing this major environmental law that will both protect future generations and allow our economy to grow."

Ever since a 1991 court decision, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has essentially lacked the ability to regulate even dangerous chemicals, including asbestos. The Udall-Vitter chemical safety bill restores EPA's ability to test and regulate. It ensures special protections for those most vulnerable from chemicals - defined in the bill as pregnant women, infants, the elderly and chemical workers. It sets a new fee so chemical companies will bear a larger share of the cost of evaluating and regulating chemicals. And it provides certainty in the law about when states may act to regulate chemicals and enforce the law on their own.

Text of the legislation, information about support and more are available HERE .