Citizen Health & Safety

Bush Trying Last-Minute Changes to Endangered Species Act

Aug 12, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The Bush administration is proposing major changes to the Endangered Species Act that would sideline government experts and allow development projects to proceed unchecked, all at the expense of endangered plants, animals, and other organisms. The Washington Post reports:

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For EPA Staff Trying to Protect the Planet, "Disappointment is Profound"

Aug 8, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Last week, a group of EPA staffers wrote to administrator Stephen Johnson chiding him for the agency's recent decision to delay federal action on greenhouse gas emissions and the damaging climatic effects they cause. In July, EPA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (a relatively minor step in the rulemaking process) that solicits public comment on various regulatory options for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Consumer Product Bill Delivers Win for Consumers

Aug 6, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Reg•Watch has been blogging about Congress's recent passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, particularly the provision that bans certain phthalates — a class of chemicals commonly found in plastic and, subsequently, the human body. There are many other provisions in the bill which will keep consumers safe from harmful products and empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission to better regulate a market dominated by cheap imports. OMB Watch has prepared a list of some of the most important aspects of the bill and how they differ from the status quo.

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Will New FDA Guidelines Really Reduce Conflicts of Interest?

Aug 6, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The Food and Drug Administration has finalized guidelines it contends will improve the independence of the expert panels it uses to receive advice on pending decisions for both food and drug policy. But the final guidelines are weaker than the proposed version first unveiled in March 2007.

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Pesticide Problems Go Unnoticed by EPA

The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) has discovered that two groups of common pesticides, generally considered to be "safer" chemicals, are responsible for one quarter of reported human pesticide poisonings, based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) own data. CPI spent several years demanding the release of the data through repeated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. A trade association representing the interests of the consumer specialty products industry denounced the report.

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Secret Risk Assessment Rule Aims to Halt Worker Safety Protections

The Bush administration is trying to rush through a Department of Labor (DOL) draft rule to require new worker safety standards to be based on a new risk assessment process that would potentially tie the hands of future administrations. The new rule was sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review in secret, violating the process OIRA has insisted agencies use for rulemaking.

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Consumer Product Safety Reform Clears Congress

Congress has approved a bill that will revamp the nation's consumer product safety net. The legislation reforms the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to enable the agency to better enforce safety standards in a market dominated by cheap imports and requires new standards for dangerous substances like lead and phthalates.

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Senate Passes Product Safety Bill

Aug 1, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Last night, the Senate passed a bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission which would also mandate new safety standards for consumer products and toys. Like the House, which approved the bill Wednesday, the Senate passed the legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support, 89-3. Also yesterday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said President Bush would sign the bill, despite some objections. That's great news for the beleaguered CPSC and for consumers. One important provision in the bill would ban certain phthalates, a chemical used in plastics, pending further study of their toxicity. This safety-first approach is a revolutionary concept for the federal government. OMB Watch has released a statement applauding the phthalate ban.

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OMB Watch Applauds Congress's Safety-First Approach to Phthalates, Consumer Protection

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2008—Congress has finally finished work on a critically important bill that revamps our nation's consumer product safety net. The House and Senate both passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. One part of the bill bans certain phthalates, a class of chemicals found in a variety of plastic products, in children's toys. OMB Watch today called on President George W. Bush to sign the bill when it comes to his desk.

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Product Safety Bill Overwhelmingly Approved by House

Jul 31, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Last night, the House of Representatives gave its final approval to a bill to give more resources and authority to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). House members approved a package, negotiated among House and Senate leaders earlier this week, by a vote of 424-1.

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