[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7623-S7624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for Mrs. Lincoln):
  S. 3850. A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to clarify 
the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency with respect to 
certain sporting good articles, and to exempt those articles from a 
definition under that Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill which 
will protect the great American traditions of hunting, fishing, and 
recreational shooting from actions that will drive up the costs of 
participation and directly impact employment across the country. 
Recently, extremist groups have filed a petition with the U.S. EPA to 
prohibit the use of lead in the manufacturing of ammunition and fishing 
tackle. This effort would not only drive up the cost of ammunition and 
fishing tackle, but would, as a direct result, drive down the number of 
people able to participate in these activities and directly hurt the 
millions of Americans who depend on the hunting, fishing, and shooting 
industries for part of their livelihoods.
  Hunters and anglers are ardent conservationists and have proven 
themselves willing to consider lead alternatives when the data 
justifies it. For instance, since 1991, waterfowl hunters have been 
required to use non-lead ammunition to protect waterfowl species which 
have been scientifically proven to be vulnerable to exposure. However, 
EPA found in 1994 no scientific basis to proceed with a lead ban in 
fishing tackle. EPA rightly and quickly rejected the petition with 
regard to ammunition, stating that they did not have the authority to 
regulate ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
  However, EPA is still considering a ban on lead fishing tackle. This 
ban would drive up costs on a sport that's appeal lies in its 
simplicity and accessibility to the broad American public. Lead sinkers 
are critical to both salt and freshwater anglers, and are frequently 
used in the types of fishing that attracts young people to this sport.
  Moreover, a ban such as this would be a blow to thousands of people 
who depend on fishing tackle and ammunition manufacturing for their 
livelihoods. Companies like Remington in Lonoke, Arkansas employ over 
20,000 Arkansans. The 5,500 manufacturers of firearms and ammunition 
and almost one million people working in sport fishing do not need EPA 
taking aim at their industry.
  My bill simply clarifies that the components used in manufacturing 
shells, cartridges, and fishing tackle are exempt from EPA regulation 
under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Taking this simple step will 
provide certainty to these critical industries and prevent EPA and 
activist litigators from dragging this issue out through the courts for 
years.
  I am confident that the sporting community will continue to work with 
the Fish and Wildlife Service and State Fish and Wildlife agencies to 
address issues around lead ammunition where and when the facts warrant 
it. But Congress must act to preserve our hunting and fishing 
traditions by ensuring access to affordable, vital tools our hunters 
and anglers rely on.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3850

       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 ``Hunting, Fishing and 
     Recreational Shooting Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION.

       Section 3(2)(B) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2602(2)(B)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(B) Such term does not include--'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `chemical substance' does not 
     include--'';
       (2) in clauses (i) through (iv), by striking the commas at 
     the end of the clauses and inserting semicolons;
       (3) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following:
       ``(v)(I) any article the sale of which is subject to, or 
     eligible to be subject to, the tax imposed by section 4181 of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and any separate component 
     of such an article (including shells, cartridges, and 
     ammunition); or
       ``(II) any substance that is manufactured, processed, or 
     distributed in commerce for use in any article or separate 
     component described in subclause (I) (as determined without 
     regard to any exemption from the tax imposed by section 4181 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 under section 4182, 
     section 4221, or any other provision of that Code);'';
       (4) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or'';
       (5) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
       ``(vii)(I) any article the sale of which is subject to, or 
     eligible to be subject to, the tax imposed by section 4161 of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and any separate component 
     of such an article; or
       ``(II) any substance that is manufactured, processed, or 
     distributed in commerce for use in any article or separate 
     component described in subclause (I).''; and
       (6) in the matter following clause (vii) (as added by 
     paragraph (5)), by striking ``The term `food' as used in 
     clause (vi) of this subparagraph includes'' and inserting the 
     following:

[[Page S7624]]

       ``(C) Related definition.--For purposes of clause (vi) of 
     subparagraph (B), the term `food' includes''.

  Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, today I am proud to introduce the Healthy 
Media for Youth Act. The purpose of this bill is to promote positive 
media depictions of girls and women among our nation's youth.
  The majority of 8- to 18-year-olds spend about 10 hours a day 
watching television, on the computer, or playing video games. 
Unfortunately, the images they see often reinforce gender stereotypes, 
emphasize unrealistic body images, or show women in passive roles.
  Positive and realistic female body images remain a problem. A recent 
survey by Girl Scouts of the USA's Research Institute found that 89 
percent of girls feel the fashion industry places a lot of pressure on 
teenage girls to be thin. Even among girls as young as grades 3 through 
5, fifty-four percent worry about their appearance, and 37 percent of 
these young girls worry specifically about their weight.
  Women are often portrayed in passive or stereotypical roles, rather 
than in positions of power. Violence against women continues to be 
prevalent throughout media. The Parents Television Council reports that 
between 2004 and 2009, violence against women and teenage girls 
increased on television programming at a rate of 120 percent, compared 
with the 2 percent increase of overall violence in television content.
  In 2007, the American Psychological Association, APA, conducted a 
report on the Sexualization of Girls and found that three of the most 
common mental health problems among girls--eating disorders, depression 
or depressed mood, and low self-esteem--are linked to the sexualization 
of girls and women in media. Boys are also negatively affected by the 
portrayal of girls because it sets up unrealistic expectations, which 
may impair future relationships between girls and boys.
  The bill I'm introducing today starts to tackle this problem by 
promoting positive media messages about girls and women among our 
nation's youth.
  Specifically, this bill would direct the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services, HHS, to award grants to nonprofit organizations to 
promote positive media depictions of girls and women among youth, and 
to empower girls and boys by developing self-esteem and leadership 
skills.
  The bill also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
CDC, in coordination with the National Institute of Child Health and 
Human Development to review, synthesize, and research the role and 
impact of depictions of girls and women in the media on the 
psychological, sexual, physical, and interpersonal development of 
youth.
  Finally, this bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, 
FCC, to convene a National Task Force on Girls and Women in the Media 
in order to develop voluntary steps and goals for promoting healthy and 
positive depictions of girls and women in the media for the benefit of 
all youth.
  We must reverse this trend for this generation of youth and for 
future generations.
                                 ______