[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 81 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4059-S4061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. King, and Mr. Blumenthal):
  S. 1124. A bill to establish requirements with respect to bisphenol 
A; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, scientific studies continue to show 
cause for concern about the chemical Bisphenol-A, BPA, especially the 
effects on babies and young children. Endocrine disrupting chemicals 
alter the function of the body's hormonal system. BPA is a synthetic 
estrogen, which means that it mimics this hormone when in the body. 
While studies continue to examine the exact effects this endocrine 
disrupting chemical has on humans, consumers deserve more information. 
They have the right to know if it is in the food products they purchase 
for their families.
  The BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act requires that food 
packaging that uses BPA include a clear label informing consumers. The 
label would read, ``This food packaging contains BPA, an endocrine-
disrupting chemical.'' This basic message would allow individuals to 
make informed decisions about the products they purchase.
  BPA is most commonly found in food products, such as the lining of 
cans. Parents are busy enough caring for their children and juggling 
what feels like a hundred things at the same time. Having factual 
information about whether the food they are buying at the grocery store 
contains BPA, a potentially harmful chemical, shouldn't be one more 
thing they have to go to great lengths to figure out.
  This legislation also directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services, HHS, to do a safety assessment of food containers containing 
BPA to determine if there is reasonable certainty that no harm will 
come from long-term low dose exposure to BPA as well as high dose 
exposure.
  This safety standard would also be used to evaluate proposed uses of 
alternatives to BPA. There is no use in replacing BPA in products if 
what we are replacing it with is just as bad or worse for human health.
  The President's Cancer Panel focused on reducing the environmental 
cancer risk in its 2008- 2009 Annual Report. BPA is just one of many 
chemicals

[[Page S4060]]

that pose a potential environmental cancer risk, with links to various 
cancers and also potentially affecting how well cancer treatments work. 
This panel, appointed by former President George W. Bush, decided that 
even though studies are ongoing, they had enough information to state 
that ``the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been 
grossly underestimated.''
  I agree with this finding and strongly believe that as scientific 
studies continue to seek definitive answers to the role of chemical 
exposure in adversely affecting human health, the very least that 
consumers deserve is the right to know what chemicals, such as BPA, are 
in the products they are purchasing. The panel specifically mentions 
concern that even though studies continue to link BPA with a variety of 
diseases, it still remains in products.
  I am particularly concerned about the negative health effects to 
children who are exposed to chemicals both while they are developing in 
the womb and in the first few years of their lives. Children are 
particularly susceptible to toxins while their bodies are developing at 
such a rapid pace. A recent study by researchers at the University of 
California, Berkley, stated that fetuses and pregnant women may be 
particularly susceptible to BPA exposure. The study found that exposure 
to BPA may have an effect on thyroid function, and suggests continued 
studies to confirm these findings.
  An article published in Health Affairs in 2011 estimated that the 
annual cost of diseases that can be attributed to negative 
environmental exposures was more than $76 billion per year in 2008. The 
incidence of endocrine system-related diseases continues to rise, and 
animal studies have shown adverse health effects in connection with 
exposure to BPA.
  A recent study by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's 
Environmental Health examined a link between BPA exposure and an 
increased risk for asthma in young children. They found that there was 
an elevated risk associated with BPA exposure and more research is 
needed to determine specific links.
  BPA is one of the most pervasive chemicals in modern life. This 
chemical is used in thousands of consumer products and the most common 
exposure is through the lining of food packaging- like cans of green 
beans and ready-made soups. As with so many other chemicals in consumer 
products, BPA has been added to our products without knowing if it is 
safe or not.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the BPA in Food 
Packaging Right to Know Act to stand up for the right of consumers to 
make informed choices about the food products they buy for their 
families. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this 
important issue.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Cruz):
  S. 1125. A bill to require the Secretary of State to submit to 
Congress reports on water sharing with Mexico; to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations.
  Mr. CORNYN. 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 ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1125

       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 ``Working to Address Treaty 
     Enforcement Rapidly for Texas Act''.

     SEC. 2. REPORTS ON WATER SHARING WITH MEXICO.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall submit to 
     Congress a report--
       (1) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, and quarterly thereafter, describing efforts by 
     Mexico to meet the treaty obligations of Mexico to deliver 
     water to the Rio Grande, in accordance with the treaty 
     between the United States and Mexico entitled ``Utilization 
     of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio 
     Grande'' (done at Washington, February 3, 1944); and
       (2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, and annually thereafter, describing the benefits to 
     the United States of the document entitled ``Interim 
     International Cooperative Measures in the Colorado River 
     Basin through 2017 and Extension of Minute 318 Cooperative 
     Measures to Address the Continued Effects of the April 2010 
     Earthquake in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California'' (done at 
     Coronado, California, November 20, 2012 (commonly referred to 
     as ``Minute Number 319'')).
       (b) Action by Secretary of State.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, the Secretary of State shall not 
     extend Minute Number 319 if the Secretary fails to comply 
     with the requirements of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cowan, 
        and Mr. Blumenthal):
  S. 1126. A bill to aid and support pediatric involvement in reading 
and education; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I introduce with my colleague, Senator 
Grassley, the Prescribe-a-Book Act. I thank Senators Stabenow, Cowan, 
and Blumenthal for joining us as original cosponsors of this bipartisan 
bill.
  Literacy skills are the foundation for success in school and in life. 
Developing and building these skills begins at home, with parents as 
the first teachers.
  Our legislation would create a federal pediatric early literacy grant 
initiative based on the long-standing, successful Reach Out and Read 
program. The program would award grants on a competitive basis to high-
quality non-profit entities to train doctors and nurses to discuss with 
parents the importance of reading aloud to their children and to give 
books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years 
of age, with a priority for children from low-income families. It 
builds on the relationship between parents and medical providers and 
helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so 
children enter school prepared for success in reading.
  The pediatric literacy model implemented by Reach Out and Read has 
consistently demonstrated effectiveness in increasing family engagement 
and boosting children's reading proficiency. Research published in 
peer-reviewed, scientific journals has found that parents who have 
participated in the program are significantly more likely to read to 
their children and include more children's books in their home, and 
that children served by the program show an increase of 4-8 points on 
vocabulary tests. I have seen up-close the positive impact of this 
program on children and their families when visiting a number of Rhode 
Island's Reach Out and Read sites.
  The Prescribe a Book Act would leverage federal dollars to expand 
pediatric literacy initiatives so that more young children reap the 
developmental benefits of having books at home and being read to by 
their parents. Federal grant funding for Reach Out and Read through the 
Department of Education helped build a successful public-private 
partnership that has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from 
the private sector and state governments. The Prescribe a Book Act 
would establish a formal authorization for activities modeled on this 
type of successful partnership.
  I urge our colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the Prescribe a Book 
Act, and to work to include its provisions in the upcoming 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. 
        Whitehouse):
  S. 1127. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 regarding school libraries, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I introduce with my colleagues 
Senators Cochran, Murray, and Whitehouse, the Strengthening Kids' 
Interest in Learning and Libraries Act.
  Since 1965, more than 60 education and library studies have produced 
clear evidence that school libraries staffed by qualified librarians 
have a positive impact on student academic achievement. Knowing how to 
find and use information are essential skills for college and careers. 
A good school library, staffed by a trained school librarian, is where 
students develop and hone these skills.
  Our bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and strengthen the 
Improving Literacy through School Libraries program of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act, the only federal

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initiative explicitly dedicated to supporting and enhancing our 
nation's school libraries. The key improvements to the program include 
ensuring that elementary, middle, and high school students are served; 
expanding professional development to include digital literacy 
instruction and reading and writing instruction across all grade 
levels; focusing on coordination and shared planning time between 
teachers and librarians; awarding grants for a period of three years; 
and ensuring that books and materials are appropriate for and gain the 
interest of students with special learning needs, including English 
learners.
  The SKILLS Act would also strengthen Title I by asking state and 
school district plans to address the development of effective school 
library programs to help students gain digital literacy skills, master 
the knowledge and skills in the challenging academic content standards 
adopted by the state, and graduate from high school ready for college 
and careers. Additionally, the legislation would broaden the focus of 
training, professional development, and recruitment activities under 
Title II to include school librarians.
  Absent a clear federal investment, the libraries in many of our high 
poverty schools will languish with outdated materials and technology, 
and in turn, students would be cut off from a vital information hub 
that connects them to the tools they need to develop critical thinking 
and research skills necessary for success. This is a true equity issue, 
which is why I will continue to fight to sustain our federal investment 
in this area and why renewing and strengthening the school library 
program is of critical importance.
  I urge our colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the bipartisan 
Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act, and to work 
together to ensure that it becomes a part of the upcoming 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

                          ____________________