What if Congress were presented with legislation that would prevent toxic pollution, enhance Americans' knowledge of toxic hazards in their communities and save companies money all at the same time? On April 14th, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Jim Saxton (R-CA) introduced that bill, the Children's Environmental Protection and Right to Know Act of 1997.

The theory is simple: Require companies to tell the public what toxic chemicals they use in manufacturing. Where it has been tried under state law — in the major manufacturing states of New Jersey and Massachusetts — this approach has been a huge success.

Federal law lags behind. In 1986, Congress passed the Community Right to Know Act, requiring companies to publicly report the toxic chemicals they release into the air, land and water. By shining this spotlight on polluting, Congress persuaded some companies to voluntarily reduce toxic emissions. The public is also better informed about sources of pollution in their communities.

But the existing law does not address the crucial problem of toxic chemicals not routinely released into the environment but which reach people through other avenues - consumer products we bring home to our families, daily workplace exposures and unplanned toxic chemical accidents. Tens of millions of workers in the United States are routinely exposed to chemicals in the workplace that cause cancer and reproductive disorders. Hundreds of toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and styrene that have been linked to cancer are found in consumer products used in homes and offices.

Because of these gaps and the relatively short list of chemicals and industries covered by the law, the existing federal Right to Know Act only informs the public about five percent of the toxic pollution. Two states have taken steps to expand the public's Right to Know about toxic chemical use.

New Jersey began collecting information on toxic chemical use within company walls ten years ago. Massachusetts began in 1990. The results have been dramatic. Massachusetts recently reported that state industries have reduced their use of toxic chemicals by 20 percent and hazardous waste generation by 30 percent in the last five years. New Jersey reports that its industries have cut their hazardous waste generation by 50 percent since 1987. Meanwhile, for the nation as a whole, the EPA recently reported that these types of hazardous wastes have increased by seven percent over the past six years.

One might expect the additional reporting required by these state laws to increase costs. But a survey of New Jersey companies found that for every dollar spent on additional reporting, companies saved on average five to eight dollars in reduced chemical use or reduced toxic waste. It makes sense: When a company understands how toxic chemicals are used in its facility it can take actions to either reduce the use or waste of these substances.

The multi-billion dollar chemical industry will be threatened by this bill. It wants to keep American businesses addicted to the products it makes — toxic chemicals. Since 1989, the chemical industry contributed more than $31 million to political candidates to maintain this addiction. They will fight to keep the public in the dark to protect their profits. But they should not be permitted to block this legislation. Companies that use toxic chemicals have much to gain from reduced toxic chemical use, as does the American public.

U.S. PIRG is the national lobbying office for the State PIRGs. State PIRGs are nonpartisan, nonprofit environmental and consumer advocacy organizations active in over 30 states.