SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - California Attorney General Kamala Harris joined eight other attorneys general Tuesday in sending a letter to Congress that strongly opposes the current form of the proposed Chemical Safety Improvement Act.
According to the letter, Senate Bill 1009 jeopardizes safety and public health by significantly limiting the long-standing power of the states to protect the public from toxic chemicals. The bill is an amendment to the Toxic Substance Control Act.
"This bill puts Californians at risk from toxic chemicals and inhibits the development of safer, cleaner products," Harris said. "California is a national leader in protecting public health and the environment from dangerous chemicals -- and we aim to stay that way."
Harris was joined in the letter by attorneys general from Washington, Vermont, Oregon, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut.
The current version of S. 1009 would potentially put multiple California programs at risk, including California's Green Chemistry Program, which promotes the use of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in everyday products, Proposition 65, which requires manufacturers to disclose chemicals and reformulating products to reduce their levels, laws that limit the use of volatile organic compounds in consumer products and a statewide ban on some flame retardants.
In June, Harris' office sent a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) outlining some initial concerns about the proposed legislation.
Nine state AGs send letter to Congress to oppose Chemical Safety Improvement Act
