Bi-Partisan Chemical Safety Bill Introduced In Senate

Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and David Vitter (R-LA) announced a bi-partisan agreement to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) yesterday. As explained in the attached Press Release, under the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013, the EPA will be given new tools to test and evaluate existing chemicals for safety, and new chemicals before they enter the market. Highlights of the proposed changes to the TCSA are: an evaluation of all chemicals in active commerce as either "high" or "low" potential risk to human health and the environment; EPA is given authority to take action if a chemical is found to be unsafe, ranging from labeling requirements to banning or phasing out of use of a chemical; EPA will be required to assess risks posed to children and pregnant women when evaluating chemicals; and, State and local governments will have input on safety assessment and prioritization of chemical evaluation. The Bill, S. 696 attached here, has broad bi-partisan support in addition to the main sponsors, including Senators Gillibrand (D-NY), Crapo (R-ID), Durbin (D-IL), Alexander (R-TN), Schumer (D-NY), Inhofe (R-OK), Rubio (D-FL), and Manchin (D-WV), among the 14 additional sponsors.

WVU Receives Grant to Study Distracted Driving

West Virginia University's School of Public Health has recevied a $182,000 grant to study the effectiveness of state laws banning cell phone use while driving. The grant from the Eunice K. Shriver National Institute of Health was announced by West Virginia's U.S. Senators, Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin. WVU's announcement is attached here. According to a National Transportation Safety Board "Fact Sheet," which notes various data on the issue, commercial drivers are 163 times more likely to have a "safety-critical event" if texting, and that national surveys indicate 69 percent of drivers reporting talking on their cell phones while driving, and 24 percent reported texting or emailing while driving. The attached chart from the Governor's Highway Safety Association, lists all cell phone/texting laws in place in the U.S. and whether the various restrictions are primary or secondary offenses. Currently West Virginia's restrictions are secondary, meaning a driver cannot be cited for hand held use unless stopped for another infraction, however, West Virginia's ban becomes primary on July 1, 2013.