Children's Environmental Health and Safety Risk Reduction Act

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has introduced legislation, S. 3502, the Children's Environmental Health and Safety Risk Reduction Act, to provide for the establishment of a task force to address the environmental health and safety risks posed to children.

Under the proposed bill, a Task Force would be created and comprised of 18 members of various departments and agencies of the federal government to recommend to the President federal strategies on research, high priority initiatives and proposals to enhance public outreach and communication to assist families in evaluating risks to children and in making informed consumer choices.

Any regulatory actions recommended by the Task Force would be required to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and evaluation of the environmental health and safety effects of the planned regulation.

The environmental health and safety risks are those that are posed by or otherwise attributable to a product or substance:

1. that the child is likely to ingest; or
2. to which the child may otherwise be exposed

These risks also include the following: 

1. air that is inhaled by or that otherwise comes into contact with a child; 
2. food; 
3. water used by a child for drinking or recreation; 
4. soil; and 
5. any product used by a child or with which a child has contact

At this writing, the bill is pending in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Source: FEMA, FMA)