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Washington, D.C. – In anticipation of President Obama’s signing into law the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which updates the Toxic Substances Control Act, LCV president Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for protecting public health from toxic chemicals. For far too long, our nation’s broken chemical law has allowed toxic chemicals into our homes and workplaces, contributing to a dramatic rise in health problems like cancer, infertility, and learning disabilities. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act will finally give the EPA the tools it needs to take action on dangerous chemicals that are jeopardizing the health of our families and our environment. While this law is clearly a compromise that includes rollbacks to state authority and the EPA’s ability to regulate imported products, we commend those who worked so hard to improve it and ensure that it is an important step forward. As we turn to implementation of this new law, we will work in partnership with our public health, environmental, and labor allies, as well as doctors, nurses, concerned parents, state legislators, and governors across the country to ensure it truly protects public health by ridding the marketplace of harmful chemicals once and for all.”
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