[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION FOR THE ROBIN DANIELSON FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCT SAFETY 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as a long-time 
advocate of women's health, I am proud to reintroduce legislation that 
would address unanswered health concerns regarding the safety of 
feminine hygiene products through the Robin Danielson Feminine Hygiene 
Product Safety Act.
  American women spend well over $2 billion per year on feminine 
hygiene products and the average woman will use over 16,800 tampons and 
pads over the course of her lifetime. Yet, despite this large 
investment and high usage, there has been limited research on the 
potential health risks these products may pose to women.
  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. While the FDA requires tampon 
manufacturers to monitor dioxin levels, this information is not made 
readily available to the public and much is still unknown about the 
cumulative adverse effects potentially posed by other components 
contained in these products. American women deserve the ability to make 
informed decisions when purchasing products that could affect their 
health.
  It is time to move past menstrual health being taboo and ensure that 
accurate information with regards to women's health is being collected 
and is readily accessible. That is why I am reintroducing the Robin 
Danielson Feminine Hygiene Product Safety Act which directs the 
National Institutes of Health (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. This bill emphasizes the need for more research and an 
understanding of additives in all feminine hygiene products.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation that directs 
substantial, scientific research to be conducted in order to best 
protect the health of America's women.

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