[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF ROBIN DANIELSON ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 28, 2014

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, American women 
deserve the ability to make educated decisions when purchasing products 
that could potentially endanger their health and their lives. Women in 
America spend over $2 billion per year on feminine hygiene products. 
Recent independent studies led by women's health organizations have 
shown that some feminine hygiene products could contain additives that 
may be harmful to a woman's health. The FDA requires tampon 
manufacturers to monitor dioxin levels but this information is not 
readily made available to the public. Diseases such as cervical cancer, 
endometriosis, infertility, and ovarian cancer may be linked to 
feminine hygiene products in our bodies but there is no way of knowing 
the extent of these connections with the lack of research on feminine 
health today.
  Women's health issues and feminine hygiene are taboo subjects in many 
cultures, including our own. In order to move past stigmas associated 
with menstrual health, leaders must unite to promote research that will 
educate and empower women and also ensure their safety and health. It 
is time to ensure that accurate information with regards to women's 
health is being collected and is readily accessible. That is why I have 
introduced legislation that directs the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) to conduct research to determine the extent of contaminants in 
feminine hygiene products. The Robin Danielson Act of 2014 directs the 
NIH to research whether the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and 
other chemical additives like chlorine and fragrances pose any health 
risks to women who use feminine hygiene products. Recent studies from 
women's health organizations have found that they might.
  We must be a leader in fighting against the challenges that confront 
women's health globally. This way, we can break the silence around the 
world by confronting taboos that interfere with the well-being of women 
by proving that these issues deserve our attention. I urge my 
colleagues to support this important legislation that I am introducing 
on Menstrual Hygiene Day.

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