Rush–Blunt Rochester Amendment to Protect Black Women Adopted During Health Subcommittee Markup on Cosmetic Safety

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) submitted an amendment to the Cosmetic Safety Enhancement Act of 2019 (H.R. 5279) to ensure that the Office of Minority Health is consulted on which ingredients should be reviewed, as well as the scientific evidence, clinical studies, data, and other information needed to ensure the health and safety of women and girls of color when developing cosmetics. The amendment was passed by voice vote.

“I am grateful to my Committee colleagues for working to pass this important and long overdue amendment.  However, I am admittedly disappointed that we had to offer this amendment in the first place,” said Rep. Rush.  “The black community — and black women and girls, in particular — deserve better than to be treated as an afterthought.  While this amendment cannot undo past harm, it will ensure the health and safety of African-American women and girls going forward.”

“Women and girls of color are disproportionately affected by environmental chemical exposures from potentially harmful chemicals in cosmetics. The legislation that we passed out of the Subcommittee today, the Cosmetic Safety Enhancement Act, will update our nation’s cosmetics laws for the first time in 80 years and empower the FDA to conduct safety reviews on cosmetic ingredients,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “By including the Office of Minority Health in the ingredient review process, we can provide meaningful protections to women and girls of color from ingredients linked to adverse health effects.”

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), fewer than 25 percent of personal care products marketed to black women are considered to be “low in potentially hazardous ingredients, compared to about 40 percent of the items…marketed to the general public.”  EWG also found that one in twelve beauty and personal care products marketed to black women are estimated to be “highly hazardous.”  The consequences of using these products include cancer, developmental and reproductive damage, and hormone disruption.