{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=1600", "Grijalva, Slaughter, McCollum Respond to FDA Decision to Re-Evaluate Allowance of \"Antibacterial\" Chemicals in Consumer Products", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Reps. Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva, Louise M. Slaughter and Betty McCollum responded today to the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) decision to reevaluate the use of triclosan and triclocarban\u2013 dangerous antibacterial chemical ingredients found in soaps and body washes\u2013 unless industry can provide evidence that they are safe and effective.\r\n\r\n\tIn November 2010, the three representatives submitted a letter to the Commissioner of the FDA urging a revaluation of triclosan. In March 2011 Rep. Slaughter co-authored an opinion piece for Politico with now-Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) describing the negative hormonal and development impacts of triclosan spelled out in several animal studies.\r\n\r\n\tThe public comment period will last until June 2014, and additional data, information, and studies can be submitted to the FDA until December 2014.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cFew things on the market today need a more urgent and comprehensive review, and it\u2019s about time this one got started,\u201d Rep. Grijalva said. \u201cI\u2019m glad, just like my colleagues on the Hill and consumer advocates around the country, that the FDA is taking the right steps. We can\u2019t always trust the invisible hand when it comes to product safety and chemical policy. We need good regulators and reasonable oversight. Today the FDA decided to protect the public, and it should be commended. I\u2019m going to watch carefully to make sure the process goes forward as it should.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThree years after we wrote to the FDA expressing concern regarding \u2018antibacterial\u2019 chemicals like triclosan and triclocarban contained in soaps and body washes, we are encouraged that the FDA is taking steps to ban them from use,\u201d Rep. Slaughter said. \u201cThese chemicals change the way our bodies respond to our own hormones, and their use contributes to antibiotic resistance, weakening the effects of antibiotics that we use to treat serious infections. I remain committed to ensuring that these dangerous chemicals are not used in household products, and will be keeping a close eye on the FDA as they move forward on this issue.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cTriclosan and triclocarban require a serious evaluation for the sake of our nation\u2019s environment and the public health of our citizens,\u201d Rep. McCollum said. \u201cIt is critical that the FDA take action to fully understand the consequences of what has become a pervasive chemical in consumer products.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=1600"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.739362884312868, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}