WASHINGTON, May 20 – Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement after the final text of the Toxic Substances Control Act was released:

“The need for chemical safety reform has been set aside for far too long. While this legislation allows Vermont to continue enforcing existing state regulations to keep adults and children safe from toxic chemicals such as PFOA, it makes it more difficult for states to set new, stricter standards. That makes no sense. Federal chemical regulations should be a floor, not a ceiling. States should not be stopped from going above and beyond minimum federal safety standards.

“We need legislation that improves regulation of toxic chemicals but does not block a state’s ability to ensure the health and safety of its people.”