[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4910-S4911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SAFE BABY PRODUCTS ACT

  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise to speak about an issue that 
is very close to my heart. I am a mom. I have two young boys at home. 
Like all parents, I have faith and confidence that the products I use 
on my children--bath products, lotions, and soaps--are safe. But a new 
study was recently released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics 
revealing that widely used baby products, such as shampoos and baby 
lotions, contain probable carcinogens and other irritants, in 
particular formaldehyde and dioxane 1,4.
  Like many other moms in New York, when I read this list of 
potentially dangerous products, I immediately began to worry about my 
children. I have two boys--Henry who is 11 months old and Theodore who 
is 5 years old. When I read this list of products, I noticed many of 
them are literally in my bathroom, and I have used them on my children 
since they were born. I was immediately very concerned. I began to 
think about what I could do to make a difference. The bottom line is, 
I, like all parents in America, need to know the facts about these 
products.
  The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an independent 
laboratory study to test 48 products for 1,4-dioxane, and 28 of those 
products were also tested for formaldehyde. The lab found that 61 
percent contained both of those chemicals. Eighty-two percent contained 
formaldehyde from a level of 54 to 610 parts per million, and 67 
percent contained 1,4-dioxane at levels up to 35 parts per million. The 
report says these chemicals are both probable carcinogens and irritants 
and have been known to cause cancer in animals.
  The FDA, however, has not established a safe level for these 
chemicals in cosmetics, and these chemicals are currently not listed as 
ingredients because they are byproducts of the processing and 
manufacturing.
  To me, this situation is unacceptable. Parents have the right to know 
whether the products they use on their children are safe. While a 
single product may not be cause for concern, the reality is, babies may 
be exposed to many products, several times a week. Children are 
particularly susceptible. Their skin is much finer, much thinner, so 
they can absorb contaminants more easily. They tend to breathe more 
quickly than adults, meaning their exposure to inhalation of some of 
these chemicals can be more considerable. We need to make sure the 
combination of these products is not causing harm to our youngest. 
Parents need to know if there are any risks in the products they trust. 
Parents have a right to know, and the government has a responsibility 
to make sure these products are safe.

[[Page S4911]]

  That is why I rise to introduce legislation that will ensure these 
baby products are safe and that parents have the information they 
deserve. The Safe Baby Products Act will require the FDA to investigate 
the safety of baby products, publicly report the findings, and 
establish manufacturing practices that will reduce or eliminate any 
harmful chemicals. While there are no known cases of any disease 
directly linked to these products, what the legislation will do is 
require the FDA to test the safety and then report the findings so all 
of us can rest assured the products we use are safe. This commonsense 
legislation will ensure that we have all the facts we need about 
lotions and soap products because parents deserve to know.
  This legislation will ensure transparency and accountability in this 
all-important consumer products market. The United States has a great 
history of taking steps to safeguard our kids. There is an important 
tradition of child and product safety laws.
  As a mother of two young sons, I understand there is no duty greater 
for the Federal Government than to protect those who are most 
vulnerable among us. Other countries have taken leadership. The EU and 
Canada have banned dioxane in cosmetic products and have regulations 
for formaldehyde. Japan and Sweden have banned formaldehyde. The 
Israeli Health Ministry has banned the sales of U.S. baby products with 
carcinogenic chemicals.
  All parents want the best for their kids. Our Government must not 
fail to protect our youngest and those who need our protection the 
most. This legislation will ensure that all of our parents have the 
information they need to keep our children safe.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that whatever 
remaining time there is on the Democratic side be preserved in the 
event that another Democratic speaker would want to speak in morning 
business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KYL. I will begin the Republican side at this time.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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