Environmental News: Media Center

WASHINGTON (February 14, 2013) – Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, announced today that he would not seek reelection in 2014.

Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, made the following statement:

“Senator Lautenberg has been one of the true champions of our environment and a powerful and effective voice for the health of our planet and our children.  He was the lead sponsor of the Community Toxics Right to Know Law, which reduced dramatically the use of toxic chemicals by large chemical companies. He was the key defender of the Superfund law.  He was instrumental in the creation of the Chemical Safety Board, which holds hazardous waste companies to account. He has done vital work on our oceans.  He wrote the BEACH Act, which informs Americans of the safety of our local beaches, and led the fight to end ocean dumping of plastics and sewage.

As this environmental champion completes his final two years in the Senate, we look forward to working with him to build on his record of achievement. In particular, Congress should pass his bill, the long- overdue Safe Chemicals Act, to better protect the public from dangerous toxic chemicals in our everyday products.”