Statement of U.S. PIRG Environmental Health Advocate Meghan PurvisWASHINGTON,
DC – Today Congresswoman Solis (CA) took an important step in
protecting people’s health worldwide from some of the most harmful
toxic chemicals by introducing H.R. 4800.
This
bill would allow the United States to implement the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), an international
treaty aimed at eliminating or restricting a small number of the most
dangerous contaminants. POPs are toxic chemicals that build up in our
bodies and persist in the environment for a long time. Many of these
chemicals may cause developmental problems like learning disabilities
and birth defects.
Any legislation to implement this treaty should include three main principles:
• Require the Environmental Protection Agency to decide whether or not
to regulate new chemicals added to the treaty in a timely fashion;
• Allow states to use innovative policy measures to further protect their citizens when EPA fails to act; and
• Use a health-based scientific standard when making decisions about regulating chemicals added to the treaty.
Congresswoman
Solis’ bill does all these things, and would be a true step forward
toward protecting public health and the environment.
