Schakowsky Hosts Safer Cosmetics, Safer Beauty Roundtable Discussion

WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), co-leads of the Safer Beauty Bill Package, joined advocacy stakeholders for a roundtable discussion on current cosmetic safety issues. Hosted in conjunction with the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC), this event highlighted the updates to cosmetic regulation that the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act (MoCRA) made and discuss what gaps still need to be addressed.

The experts joining the roundtable discussion included Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Namandje Bumpus from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Melanie Benesh, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group, and Dr. Mona Vand, Pharm.D, a Wellness Educator and Entrepreneur.

"Safe, accessible beauty cannot wait. After more than 80 years of inaction, the United States finally updated its cosmetics laws in 2022. President Joe Biden was able to sign into law the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, which now gives authority to the Food and Drug Administration to recall beauty and personal care products that are harming human health. While this was an important first step, our work is not done," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. "I introduced the Safer Beauty Bill Package with my colleagues, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Lisa Blunt Rochester, which would protect consumers from toxic chemicals linked to hormone disruption, cancer and other health problems; require full ingredient transparency, including closing the fragrance and flavor loophole, for consumers and brand owners; and protect the health of women of color and salon workers, who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces. We must pass the Safer Beauty Bill Package now!"

The Safer Beauty Bill Package covers almost every aspect of personal care product safety. They are:

• H.R. 3619 - The Toxic-Free Beauty Act (Reps. Schakowsky and Fletcher): Bans 11 of the most toxic chemicals, including mercury, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and phenylenediamines (hair dye chemicals). The European Union, California, and Maryland already ban these chemicals, yet they are in cosmetic products sold legally in the United States.
• H.R. 3620 - Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers (Reps. Schakowsky and Blunt Rochester): Funds research, resource materials, education and outreach, and the development of safer chemicals to protect the health of women of color and salon workers, two vulnerable populations who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the cosmetic products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces.
• H.R. 3621 - Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Right to Know Act (Reps. Schakowsky and Matsui): Requires product label and website disclosure of these secret, unlabeled, and often toxic chemicals in our personal care products.
• H.R. 3622 - Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act (Rep. Schakowsky): requires suppliers of raw materials, ingredients, and private label products to provide full ingredient disclosure and safety data to cosmetic companies so they can make safer products.

The average American adult uses about 12 personal care products a day, resulting in exposure to an average of 168 unique chemicals. Children are also exposed to products containing risky chemicals during critical stages of childhood development. As these products range from toothpaste to makeup, it is easy for companies to conceal harmful chemicals that risk American livelihoods. Chemicals in beauty and personal care products have been linked to cancer, infertility, poor infant and maternal health outcomes, asthma, and many other serious health concerns. Women of color are disproportionately exposed to these harmful chemicals due to workplace conditions.

For over a decade, Congresswoman Schakowsky has fought tirelessly to pass a robust regulatory framework for cosmetics and personal care products. The efforts focus on closing major loopholes in federal law that allow companies to use nearly any ingredient in these products-even chemicals that are known to harm human health and the environment like coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, lead acetate, parabens, and phthalates.

###