Sen. Lautenberg Joins Stroller Brigade To Push Safe Chemicals Bill

Jersey U.S. Senator is urging fellow lawmakers in Washington to support legislation designed to protect Americans from dangerous toxic chemicals found in everyday consumer products.

Senator Frank Lautenberg says the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 he’s sponsoring gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the tools it needs to require health and safety testing of toxic chemicals, and places the burden on industry to prove that chemicals are safe.  Under current law, the EPA can only call for safety testing after evidence surfaces demonstrating a chemical is dangerous.

The legislation will give the EPA more power to regulate the use of dangerous chemicals,  and require manufacturers to submit information proving the safety of every chemical in production and any new chemical seeking to enter the market.

“It’s shocking that toxic chemicals end up in everyday consumer products, and in our bodies, without anyone proving that they are safe,” says Lautenberg. “We're not going to stand by and let our kids continue to be exposed to chemicals that make them sick.”

Lautenberg joined hundreds of concerned mothers from across the country today in Washington - in a "Stroller Brigade" - to deliver 125,000 petition signatures to their Senators in support of the Safe Chemicals Act.

The legislation is co-sponsored by several U.S. Senators, including NJ Sen. Bob Menendez.