|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee | State Rep. Lawrence Curry D-Montgomery/Phila. Hearing Co-Chairman |
HDPC examines the usage of BPA in baby products
HARRISBURG, Sept. 21 – The House Democratic Policy Committee heard from experts on the health impacts of BPA (bisphenol-A) at a Capitol public hearing today, according to committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
State Rep. Larry Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., requested the hearing and served as its co-chairman. Curry has introduced legislation (H.B. 192) that would ban BPA from baby products sold and manufactured in Pennsylvania.
"Concern over the use of the compound BPA in the products we use every day has been growing over the past decade among medical experts and consumers alike,” Sturla said. “Representative Curry has been working tirelessly to inform the public about the potential health risks BPA can pose, as well as working to get fair legislation passed that would ban the chemical from baby products sold and manufactured in Pennsylvania.”
Curry added, "The threat of BPA to our children and adults is real, which makes our inaction inexcusable. We have to not only make sure this chemical is not in infant and toddler products, but we also have to make sure manufacturers don't replace it with something just as dangerous."
Those testifying at the hearing included: Terrence Collins, director of Institute for Green Science, Carnegie Mellon University; Rebecca Roberts, associate professor, Ursinus College; Michael Hansen, senior staff scientist, Consumers Union; Walter Tsou, president, Philadelphia Physicians for Social Responsibility; Maureen Swanson, Healthy Children project coordinator, Learning Disabilities Association of America; Myron Arnowtiz, PA state director, Clean Water Action; and Jason Rano, senior legislative analyst, Environmental Working Group.
For more information about the Policy Committee and hearing materials, visit www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.