Certainly not anybody's goal who has been involved in this bill to have EPA spinning its wheels in initial assessments for a decade or more.

We thought that was clear in our language, but Senator Udall and I are going to make it crystal clear in our manager's amendment.

Fine. OK, Dr. Borak, can you comment on a particular statement in the Society of Toxicology letter?

I think they are wrong in almost all instances.

I found this hearing very, very useful, and it continues a lot of conversations with all interested stakeholders.

The present version of Lautenberg-Vitter specifically talks about vulnerability of any sub-populations.

We are not trying to shut down any private causes of action, we are not trying to have any significant impact there.

I hope we don't, none of us, cling to a bill that may be perfect in any of our individual minds that will not pass.

I think this bill fixes that.

In no way, shape or form did Frank and I intend this legislation to eliminate private rights of action under State tort law.

I don't think that stalemate benefits the public, but I know it benefits them in many instances.

We are working on proposed revisions to the bill to address all of these concerns.

So following up on that specifically with regard to that California Safer Consumer Products law, do you think Lautenberg-Vitter would 'cripple' it?

I think it is a perfect example of one of the misimpressions I was talking about in my opening statement.

I think doing that, using Lautenberg-Vitter as a base, resolving those issues, clarifying everything we can, it won't get rid of all of our differences.

I think you have made it clear that those are decoupled. I think that is a big step forward from the current law.

I want to particularly highlight the testimony of two folks who were in charge of this exact set of rules and regulations in law at the EPA.

I think it is a very safe presumption in that case that they wouldn't examine that issue, and fail to take action with a clear and legitimate health and safety concern.

I consider them important partners. No partner should just get anything, everything they want.

I think this is a great example of one of those clarifications.

Thank you very much, Chairman Boxer, for convening this important hearing today on Toxic Substances Control Act.

Do you think California's environmental health and safety protections would be made stronger or weaker by the Lautenberg-Vitter bill?

Would the Lautenberg-Vitter bill improve EPA's ability to get what it needs in that regard?

I rise to propose and support two amendments to the appropriations bill that is on the floor today and will continue into next week. They both have a common theme, and that theme is to keep faith with the American people; to not put…

Well, I am hoping that we are going to change that record over time and that once this office is ramped up in terms of staffing, we will streamline the process.