[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 2 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation to protect the health of America's children, the Children's 
Environmental Protection Act.
  In 1996, Congress unanimously passed the Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA) which requires the Environmental Protection Agency to consider 
children's exposure to pesticides in food limit pesticide exposure to 
children. While the FQPA focused on protecting children by ensuring 
that the food they eat does not contain harmful levels of pesticides, 
this bill establishes guidelines to help reduce and eliminate exposure 
of children to environmental pollutants in areas reasonably accessible 
to children. The bill also requires the collection of toxicity data by 
the EPA Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services so that we can begin to understand, with 
some level of accuracy, the long-term health effects and toxicity of 
pesticides and other environmental pollutants on children.
  For too long risk assessments have been performed using the average, 
robust 170 pound male as a model. As a result, we really have no idea 
how these chemicals impact a child's system. This leaves our children 
at risk because their physiology, play habits, and patterns of exposure 
make them more vulnerable to toxic harm. For example, children breathe 
in more of an air pollutant per pound of body weight. They eat more 
fresh fruit by body weight and drink proportionally more tap water, 
juice, and milk.
  This bill addresses that problem by requiring that all EPA standards 
for environmental pollutants be set at levels that protect children. In 
addition, the Act requires EPA to publish a ``Safe for Children'' list 
of products, in addition to providing parents and the public with 
advice on how to minimize a child's exposure to harmful pollutants.
  This bill also helps families educate themselves about potential 
threats to their children's health through the creation of a family 
right-to-know information kit. The kit will include a summary of 
helpful information and guidance to families and practical suggestions 
on how parents can reduce their children's exposure to environmental 
pollutants.
  This bill will begin to provide the essential information we need to 
quantify and evaluate the impact of environmental pollutants in 
children. The more we know about potential risks and the less toxic 
burden we put on the environment the healthier our children will be. 
This legislation has been endorsed by Administrator Browner and by 
several environmental and health organizations. I urge your support and 
co-sponsorship of this important legislation.

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