Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to join Senator Chafee and Senator Smith in supporting H.R. 2024, the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery…”

“I rise to join Senator Chafee and Senator Smith in supporting H.R. 2024, the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act. The bill is based on the bipartisan bill that I sponsored with Senators Faircloth, Lieberman, Reid, and Graham during the last Congress. This legislation is an important step in our efforts to control the amount of toxic wastes entering the waste stream. Specifically, it deals with mercury, cadmium, and lead, which are contained in some battery casing. These materials pose no risk while a battery is in use. But they can be a significant concern when discarded in our solid waste stream. Cadmium, which is used in the electrodes of rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, can cause kidney and liver damage. Mercury exposure can cause significant damage to the nervous system and kidneys. It has also been linked to decreased motor functions and muscle reflexes, memory loss, headaches, and brain function disorders. And when mercury enters the aquatic environment, it can form methyl mercury, which is extremely toxic to both humans and wildlife.”