[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 38 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E253-E254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INVALUABLE HELP OF ANDY IGREJAS IN STRENGTHENING THE LAUTENBERG 
                            TSCA REFORM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 5, 2018

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding 
contributions Andy Igrejas has made in improving the lives of the 
American people through his tireless advocacy and expertise in reducing 
public exposure to harmful chemicals.
  A native of Bloomfield, New Jersey and a proud graduate of Rutgers 
College, Andy has worked on environmental health and government reform 
issues in New Jersey, California, and Washington, D.C. over his decades 
of service.
  Every day, we see the steps the Environmental Protection Agency is 
taking to implement the Lautenberg TSCA Reform law passed in 2016. 
While that implementation is so far not living up to the letter of the 
law, we will continue to work to hold the EPA accountable for meeting 
its essential duty under the law: removing toxic chemicals from 
commerce and from our homes.
  We are only able to do this because of important changes that were 
made in the Lautenberg Act as it went through Congress--changes that 
came about because of Andy's tireless work and dedication as Executive 
Director of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition.
  The work to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act began in earnest 
in 2009, when the major stakeholders published principles for reform. 
It was that year that Andy organized the Safer Chemicals, Healthy 
Families coalition to create a unified voice for health, environmental, 
and labor organizations interested in advancing chemical policy reform.
  With Andy as its director, the coalition has grown to include 450 
organizations and small businesses from across the country and across 
the political spectrum. By unifying these groups, Andy made their 
voices stronger, strong enough to stand up to extraordinary 
expenditures from industry interests.
  Andy's work also kept the interest in TSCA reform alive when 
negotiating a deal seemed impossible. Andy's appreciation for the role 
of entrepreneurship and the private sector in creating positive social 
change led to the coalition's decision to launch Mind the Store, an 
initiative challenging the nation's largest retailers to restrict 
hazardous chemicals in their supply chains. It was that effort at the 
retail level, along with legislative efforts in the states, which kept 
industry at the table pursuing a comprehensive federal program.
  I want to thank Andy for his bold thinking, tireless efforts, and 
strategic counsel to me and my staff, without which many of the public 
health and environmental improvements in the Lautenberg TSCA reform law 
would not have been possible.

[[Page E254]]

  

                          ____________________