Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today successfully moved his landmark “Safe Chemicals Act of 2012” out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The committee referred the bill for consideration by the full Senate.

The long-awaited legislation would overhaul laws governing oversight of toxic chemicals and would give the federal government the authority it needs to learn more about chemicals before they are marketed so that it can better protect the public.

“We should all be able to agree that the safety of chemicals should be proven before people are exposed to them,” said Earthjustice Attorney Eve Gartner. “Americans should no longer be the guinea pigs for products that are threatening our long term health, and especially the health of our children.”

“We applaud Senator Lautenberg and Chairman Barbara Boxer for their steadfast commitment to the safety and health of all Americans,” said Andrea Delgado, Legislative Representative for Earthjustice. “The Safe Chemicals Act will give the EPA the tools it urgently needs to protect the public from toxic chemicals. We now urge the Senate to protect Americans by bringing this important bill to a floor vote as soon as possible.”