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Important Legislation
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Children’s Health and Environment
Legislation is an important tool for improving environmental health nationwide. Below is a list of important legislation and bills that we are tracking as well as links to some model legislation.
Superfund Polluter Pays Act
Show support for
cleaning up Superfund sites by calling and urging your member of Congress to
co-sponsor the Superfund Polluter Pays Act (H.R.
832). The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code by reinstating the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate and the corporate environmental income tax until January 1, 2019. It was introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone of NJ in February 2009 and was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee.
Bill Text
National Children's Study Enters Next Phase
Baby Safe Products Act
April 29, 2009 -- This Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study the presence of contaminants and impurities in cosmetics and personal care products marketed to and used by children. The bill was introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Bill Text
Kid Safe Chemicals Act
August 2009 -- This bill is expected to be reintroduced this Fall. In keeping with the mission of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, we are pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Kid Safe Chemicals Act, originally introduced by U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Henry Waxman in 2008. The goal of the legislation is to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 and respond to the growing body of scientific research that identifies various chemical exposures as contributing agents in the rise of diseases and disorders such as asthma, some cancer, infertility, birth defects and neurological and developmental disorders. The Kid Safe Chemicals Act would:
- Acknowledge kids’ unique vulnerability to toxic exposures by establishing a standard of safety that accounts for children’s special sensitivities.
- Protect kids by requiring manufacturers to provide health and safety information prior to distributing a chemical in consumer products.
- Prioritize chemicals to make sure the worst chemicals are examined first.
- Close the knowledge gap in our understanding of chemical safety risks.
Passage of The Kid Safe Chemicals Act may be
one of the most important legislative actions this year
and is a major priority for the Center.
Contact your Senator Contact your Representative
For additional information on Federal legislation, see below.
Search on Bills by Keywordhttp://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByKeyword.asp "Green Cleaning" Policy for Schools (A4087) June 15, 2009 - A bill that would require the Department of Education to adopt green cleaning policy for schools and child care centers with 50 or more students is now under consideration in the NJ State House. Assembly bill A4087 was introduced by NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora. Bill TextExpanded Autism Services Feb. 25, 2008 -A six-bill package of proposals aimed at expanding autism services in New Jersey passed through the Assembly health committee. The package would require health insurance coverage of therapies for those on the autism spectrum, create the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Autism in the Department of the Public Advocate, establish an state-sponsored autism Web site, create voluntary identification cards for autistics, allow guardians to have better choice in what support services are given to those with autism and urge the state Board of Education to create a student peer program for students with autism. The bill is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden. http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/NEWS/80225058/1001/rss
( Asbury Park Press online)
Vaccine Mandates
In December 2007, New Jersey became the first state to approve vaccine mandates. “The Governor’s Public Health Council, made a very, very bad mistake by mandating these vaccines,” said Deirdre Imus. “New Jersey will be the first state in the entire world to require annual flu shots for children in preschool and day care facilities. Ninety percent of the influenza vaccine supply still contains thimerosal, a potent developmental neurotoxin.” Ms. Imus calls on the public to help repeal the measure. more...
(List of Organizations Opposed to this Measure)
In 2008, New Jersey became the first and only state in the nation to mandate an annual flu shot for all children ages 6 months through 59 months (or 4 years, 11 months) attending a licensed preschool or daycare center. Now new legislation is on the table to provide for exemptions to mandatory legislation.
Mercury-Free Vaccine Bill (A1055)
January 8, 2008 -- Introduced by Members Perter Biondi and Linda Stender and referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp
Identical to S359 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp
Conscientious Exemption to Mandatory Immunizations (A260)
January 1, 2008 -- Introduced by Members Vandrvalk, Biondi, Schaer, Diegnan, Bramnick and referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp
Identical to S1071 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp
Summary: This bill provides for conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations. "Conscientious exemption" means an exemption from a mandatory immunization on the grounds of a sincerely held or moral objection to the immunization. "Mandatory immunization" means any vaccination required by the State as a condition for attendance at public or private institutions of higher education, public or private school, kindergarten, nursery school, preschool or child care facilities in New Jersey.
Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A0500/260_I1.PDF)
September 23, 2008 - NJ Assembly draft bill A560 provides for "conscientious exemption" to mandatory immunizations. The draft was pre-filed for introduction in the 2008 session. It is sponsored by: Charlotte Vandervalk (Bergen-39th District); Peter Biondi (Morris and Sussex); District 16 (Morris and Somerset), Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer, District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic); Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr., District 18 (Middlesex); and Assemblyman Jon M. Braminick, District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union). The bill also has 17 co-sponsors. Link to full text
States that already signed such legislation into law are:
California, Delaware, Iowa, Missouri, New York and Washington.
Federal Legislation
Click here to search for current status
on federal bills by number.
Contact your Representative
Contact your Senator
Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations of 2009 (H.R.3069)
June 26, 2009 -- Introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee. A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated population in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated population in the United States, and for other purposes.
BPA-Free Kids Act of 2009 (S. 753)
March 31, 2009 -- Introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution in commerce of children’s food and beverage containers composed of bisphenol A, and for other purposes.
The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008 (HR 1553)
Thank You for Your Support!
Deirdre Imus Praises Lawmakers for Additional Funding to Fight Childhood Cancer
(Environmental Center press release)
July 29, 2008: Signed into law by President Bush. The Act provides $30 million per year through 2012 to expand childhood cancer research, create a national database to evaluate cancer trends and provide resources to patients and families affected by childhood cancer. Specifically, the legislation will allocate $30 million to:
- Provide funding for critical biomedical research programs aimed at preventing and curing childhood cancer and improving the lives of children with pediatric cancers,
- Support a national childhood cancer database to monitor the incidence of pediatric cancers, identify cancer causes and aid in the development of prevention strategies and cures,
- Foster clinical and translational research for pediatric oncologists especially in the early stages of their career development,
- Provide informational and educational services to patients and families affected by childhood cancer to help ensure access to the best available therapies for pediatric cancers.
"Combating Autism Act" - Funding Update
November 3, 2007: After months of negotiations, the House-Senate Conference Committee finally appropriated funding for the Combating Autism Act (CAA). Included in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill for FY 2008, the Committee provided $37 million for autism education, early detection and intervention (HHS/HRSA), $16.2 million for surveillance and research (CDC), and $1 million for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) to develop a strategic action plan.
The Committee’s conference report also provided an additional $1.1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), of which approximately $112 million may be used for autism and developmental disorder research. The additional funding provided by the CAA brings the total amount of federal funds available for autism related research and programs for 2008 to $166 million. However…
November. 13, 2007: President Bush vetoed the $606 billion Labor/HHS Appropriations Bill for exceeding his proposed budget by $10 billion. Congress failed to override the veto and must go back and rework the Labor/HHS funding bill. At this time, no new funding authorized through the CAA has been appropriated. It is unknown if the Combating Autism Act funding will be reduced further to comply with the President’s proposed budget.
Source: Summary of Conference Agreement on H.R. 3043 FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (page 3)
http://www.aau.edu/budget/LHHS_Conf_Summ_11-3-07.pdf
The National Children's Study
The National Children's Study will examine the effect of genes and the environment on children’s health. The comprehensive National Institutes of health study will follow a representative national sample of 100,000 children from before birth to age 21, and investigate factors influencing the development of such conditions as autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, birth defects, diabetes, asthma, and obesity.
October 6, 2008: The National Institutes of Health named the 27 study centers that will be funded in 2008, which will manage 39 locations in the study. That brings the total of new and existing study centers to 36, covering a total of 72 study locations. The study centers will recruit from the study locations — counties and other geographic demarcations preselected by study scientists to be representative of the United States. The large size of the study requires that it be carried out in stages. When it is fully operational, the study is expected to have approximately 40 study centers recruiting volunteers from the planned 105 study locations throughout the United States.
February 2007: The National Children's Study received an appropriation of $69 million from Congress to support expansion of the Study into additional communities across the country. This step signals a new Study milestone, with the posting of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to fund 15-20 new Study Centers nationwide. With this funding, the already established Study Centers (called Vanguard Centers) will now be able to begin recruitment.
Funding Announcement (2/16/07)
National Children's Study (website)
Other State Legislation
Search tool for state and local legislation:
www.statelocalgov.net/
New York State
Search for any New York legislation
Assembly bill search http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/
Senate bill search http://www.nysenate.gov/openleg
Vaccine Assembly Bills
A3064 prohibits schools from questioning a parent's religious objection to vaccines. It is intended to protect parents from inappropriate and intrusive inquiry into their religious beliefs by government authorities. Link: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A3064
A3180 ensures if a doctor writes a note stating a child should not get shots, s/he doesn't. Doctor's orders would prevail. The bill states that the professional judgment of a student`s physician, physician`s assistant or nurse practitioner will prevail concerning immunization of the student. Link: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A3180
California
Click here for current status of children's environmental health bills in California.
Updated 8-18-09
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