News & Insights

From market share to protected citizens to healthier products — we do the numbers for toxics in 2015

On the evening of December 17, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would amend the nation's main chemical policy, the 1976 Toxics Substances Control Act. As lawmakers negotiate a final bill, SAFER states will continue to work hard to ensure that states remain empowered to protect citizens from toxic chemicals.

State action is a powerful force that affects change nationwide. And we need that power working in harmony with federal law for the best interest of our health, environment and economy well into the future.

Today, 11 states have legislation in place requiring “green cleaning” in schools and five more are considering such policies. These policies are delivering better health, attendance and student performance, even as they reduce costs. When will all states adopt 21st century safer cleaning practices?

Things are heating up in the Capitol over reforming our deeply broken chemical regulations. With a Senate bill full of red tape and potential loopholes, it's more important than ever that states retain the right to protect their people from toxic chemicals.

Home Depot and Lowe's have agreed to phase out toxic phthalates from their vinyl flooring by the end of 2015. Why? Because people who vote with their dollars want safer products.

A bill to reform chemical policy is on its way to the Senate floor, even as fiery debate continues over essential details, including the role of states. Meanwhile, states keep moving on protective chemical policy at home.

Things can get ugly, complicated and personal when Congress debates reform of the long-broken Toxic Substances Control Act. Safer state experts help keep the mission clear; but we need individual voices to speak up, too. 

If someone were threatening to take away your rights, you’d talk to a lawyer. But what if someone were threatening to take away a right from your entire state? That’s when you call on the Attorney General. And the Attorneys General of California, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington all spoke up this week to defend their states—and public health—from a bad proposal.

Proposed chemical policy "reform" shuts state governments out of the process. But when you’re up against a really strong opponent, it just doesn’t make sense to keep your best players on the bench.