[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRANKEN:
  S. 1697. A bill to require that household cleaning products and 
similar products bear labels that state completely and accurately all 
of the ingredients of such products, and for other purposes, to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing my second bill, 
the Household Product Labeling Act. This legislation will enable 
consumers to determine whether potentially harmful chemicals are 
present in the household cleaning products they use every day. I want 
to first thank my colleague in the House, Representative Israel of New 
York's 2nd District, for his leadership on this issue and for the 
tremendous work he put into helping to craft this bill.
  In many households across the country, the entire family pitches in 
on household cleaning chores. The effort is obviously intended to keep 
everyone healthy by cutting down on germs, bacteria, and mold. But 
unfortunately, many of the ingredients in commonly used cleaning 
products may be dangerous themselves. Current law requires that product 
labels list immediately hazardous ingredients, but there is no labeling 
requirement for ingredients that may cause harm over time.
  Many chemicals contained in household products have been shown to 
produce harmful health effects. Consumers have a right to know which of 
these potentially harmful chemicals might be present in their kitchen 
and bathroom cupboards. This information is particularly important to 
families with small children, who as we all know have more direct 
contact with floors and household surfaces. This legislation simply 
makes that information readily available to consumers, giving them the 
opportunity to make an informed choice about the chemicals they bring 
into their homes.
  How many times have you heard on the news or read in the paper about 
a new drug or chemical that has been recently linked to health or 
environmental hazards? It happens all the time. An ingredient that a 
company claims is ``perfectly safe'' today could be reclassified as 
``dangerous'' tomorrow. And an ingredient that is safe for most people 
could be a major irritant for a child with asthma. Eventually, I hope 
that manufacturers will take pre-emptive action and eliminate 
potentially harmful chemicals from their products. In the meantime, 
this legislation is a common sense step in the right direction.
  I urge my colleagues to support the ``Household Product Labeling 
Act'' and give consumers the right to shield their families from 
potentially harmful household products.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was orderd to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1697

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Household Product Labeling 
     Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. LABELING REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) Consumer product.--The term ``consumer product'' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Consumer 
     Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052).
       (2) Covered products.--The term ``covered products'' 
     consists of the following consumer products:
       (A) Household cleaning products.
       (B) Air fresheners and deodorizers.
       (C) Floor and furniture polish.
       (D) Dishwashing soap.
       (E) Drain cleaners.
       (F) Laundry detergent and dryer sheets.
       (G) Epoxies.
       (H) Paints or stains.
       (I) Any other similar consumer product designated by the 
     Consumer Product Safety Commission for purposes of this Act.
       (3) Ingredients.--The term ``ingredients'', with respect to 
     a covered product, includes any fragrance, dye, or 
     preservative, and any component of such fragrance, dye, or 
     preservative, included in such product.
       (4) Interstate commerce.--The term ``interstate commerce'' 
     has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Federal 
     Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261).
       (5) Label.--The term ``label'' has the meaning given such 
     term in such section 2.
       (b) Labeling Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Each covered product introduced or 
     delivered for introduction into interstate commerce shall 
     bear a label that states completely, accurately, and legibly 
     all of the ingredients of such product.
       (2) Standard list of ingredients.--The Consumer Product 
     Safety Commission shall prescribe in the rules required by 
     subsection (d) a standardized list of the ingredients known 
     to be included in covered products in order to ensure the 
     uniform statement of ingredients on covered products in 
     labels on covered products under this Act.
       (c) Enforcement.--Beginning on the date that is 540 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, any covered 
     product that is introduced or delivered for introduction into 
     interstate commerce in violation of subsection (b) shall be 
     treated as a misbranded hazardous substance within the 
     meaning of section 2(p) of the Federal Hazardous Substances 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(p)).
       (d) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety 
     Commission shall prescribe rules to carry out this Act.
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