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Fight Now Turns to Senate – Will it Ban BPA Sports-Water Bottles as Well?
UPDATE: OLYMPIA, Jan. 29, 12:00 P.M.--The state Senate passed its version of the BPA-ban bill by a vote of 36-9. House and Senate now face a fight over whether to extend the ban to cover sports-water bottles.
By Erik Smith
Staff writer/ Washington State Wire
OLYMPIA, Jan. 26.—Just in time for a big state environmental lobbying day today, the Washington state House Monday passed a bill that bans the use of bisphenol A (BPA) plastics in baby products and sports water bottles.
It was the second time around for the measure, which was introduced and passed last year by the state House as well, only to die in the Senate. And the only major change was the vote – this time House Bill 1180 passed by a near-unanimous score of 95 to 1.
Last year the bill passed the state House by a vote of 76-21.
The measure is one of the top priorities for the state environmental lobby this year. Environmentalists have mounted a national crusade against the compound, which for more than 50 years has been used to make clean shatterproof plastic and liners for metal cans and jar lids.
Environmentalists contend the compound can cause developmental problems as well as cancer and heart disease in adults. Although some studies have pointed to hazards, researchers have had difficulty reproducing the results – an essential element in proving a scientific case. Regulatory agencies around the world, relying on studies that have determined the plastic to be safe, have declined to take action.
Two weeks ago the federal Food and Drug Administration, responding to the furor, urged caution in the use of BPA in products that might be used by infants and small children, but did not take further action.
Meanwhile, environmentalists have turned to the political arena to obtain the restrictions that regulators are reluctant to provide. Last year legislatures in Minnesota and Connecticut passed measures banning BPA in baby products. Washington would become the third state to enact a ban – but only if it beats Oregon, California, Maryland, Illinois, and Vermont, where environmentalists also are pushing for restrictions.
In Washington state, the House vote makes it appear that the battle has shifted from baby products to at least one product that is used by adults. A similar anti-BPA bill has been approved by a committee in the state Senate, but the key difference between the House and Senate measures is that Senate Bill 6248 does not ban the use of the plastic in sports water bottles. Lawmakers on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee argued that the Legislature should go no further than federal regulators, and noted that manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups already are removing BPA from their formulations because of consumer pressure. That meant the bill would have little effect other than that which is already occurring.
Environmentalists, led by the Washington Toxics Coalition, said they would mount an effort in the Senate to include sports-water bottles in a Washington-state BPA ban. Clifford Traisman, lead lobbyist for the Environmental Priorities Coalition, said, “this is a huge win, and we hope the Senate moves to pass it just as swiftly."
The vote in the state House Monday showed that even some of the state’s most conservative lawmakers now are willing to vote against the BPA. During the floor debate, some cited the FDA statement as evidence that harm has been discovered. Said Spokane Valley Republican Matt Shea, “We had expressed some concerns about the data. Well, now the data is in…I urge a ‘yes’ vote.”
The lone dissenting vote against the measure was cast by Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger.
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