[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE ENVIRONMENTAL HORMONE DISRUPTION ACT AND THE WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENTAL 
                   HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 15, 2008

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, today I'm proud to introduce the 
Environmental Hormone Disruption Act and the Women's Environmental 
Health and Disease Prevention Act.
  Consider for a moment that a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer 
is 1 in 7 today, compared to 1 in 22 in the 1940s--over half of the 
cases are unexplained. And, over the last 30 years, the U.S. has seen a 
steep rise in the occurrence of childhood cancers, testicular cancer, 
juvenile diabetes, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, 
thyroid disorders, cognitive impairment, and autoimmune disorders. 
Autism cases alone rose 210 percent between 1987 and 1998.
  About 100,000 chemicals are registered for use in the United States. 
However, 90 percent of these have never been fully tested for their 
impact on human health. Scientists have found that exposure to these 
synthetic chemicals disrupts hormone function and contributes to 
increased incidences of diseases. We already know the tragic impact 
that diethylstilbestrol, or DES, has had on the daughters of women who 
took this anti-miscarriage drug prescribed until 1971.
  Furthermore, a recent article in the Boston Globe highlighted the 
possible link between obesity and exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an 
estrogen-like compound found in many common plastic objects.
  While the evidence is mounting that there is an association between 
these chemicals and hormone disruption, research remains limited, 
particularly on the impact on women and on how long-term, low-dose 
exposure to environmental pollutants impacts children at critical 
stages of development.
  A couple years ago, I participated in a study conducted by the 
Environmental Working Group to find out what toxic substances I, in 
particular, and Americans in general, have been exposed to throughout 
our lives. My stunning test results showed literally hundreds of 
chemicals pumping through my vital organs every day. These chemicals 
include PCBs that were banned decades ago, as well as chemicals like 
Teflon that are currently under Federal investigation.
  The study also tested 10 newborn babies and found that on average, 
each one had some 200 chemicals in their blood at the time of birth. 
The fact that we have children coming into this world already polluted 
and at the same time, do not know what the effects of that pollution 
will be on their mental and physical development, is both bad policy 
and immoral. We must test chemicals before they go onto the market, not 
after they get into our bloodstreams.
  For several years, I have called on Congress to enact legislation 
that would allow NIH to expand its research on the impact of these 
chemical pollutants on the health of women and children.
  Once again, I am introducing two important bills that I hope will 
advance this research--the Environmental Hormone Disruption Act and the 
Women's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Act. The 
Environmental Hormone Disruption Act authorizes the National Institute 
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to conduct a comprehensive 
program to research and educate the public on the health effects of 
hormone-disrupting chemicals. The Women's Environmental Health and 
Disease Prevention Act authorizes the NIEHS to establish 
multidisciplinary research centers to investigate how environmental 
factors may be related to women's health and disease prevention.
  Increased investments in research now could prevent and treat a broad 
range of diseases and disorders in future generations. I urge my 
colleagues to support these bills today.

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