Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, known as the Lautenberg Act, a bill to update the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act:

“Frank Lautenberg would be proud to see his name on this bipartisan bill that strengthens and improves the Toxic Substance Control Act. It’s a fitting tribute to his legacy that health effects and environmental concerns will be top priorities when evaluating and regulating commercial chemicals found in everyday products like cleaning supplies, clothing and furniture.

“I’m particularly pleased that the bill requires safety findings for any new chemicals before they’re allowed to be used in consumer goods. It’s also encouraging that the bill prioritizes and expedites action on chemicals that are stored near drinking water or contain known carcinogens.

“This bill was particularly important to California, which has the most advanced environmental laws and regulations in the country. This bill protects our state’s strong standards from being preempted by weaker federal laws. Thanks to the Lautenberg Act, we’ve taken a big step toward reaching the day when Americans can trust the products they use every day are safe.”

###