Constituent Letter

To Greg Vitali:  
  My name is Abby M. and I am a student at Haverford High School. My peers and I will be the next generation to begin voting and leading this country, which is why I strongly believe it is important for us to start voicing our opinions now. I would love for you to really consider what I am going to say in this letter and hopefully, you will see the benefit of the  H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011.
     The cosmetic industry in our country is hardly struggling; in fact, it is worth nearly $50 billion. As such a large industry, it seems to me that there should be more federal regulations on what companies produce, how they produce it, and what exactly goes into developing the product. As it is, the cosmetic industry is essentially self-regulated.
     Although there are certain guidelines companies must follow, there are definitely loop holes that, while may lead to more revenue for the company, endanger millions of consumers. For example, companies are still able to use chemicals in their products that have been directly linked to cancer. These same chemicals are actually used in a number of baby shampoos! In addition, we are also subjected to hormone disrupters in our fragrances and lead poison in our lipsticks.
    Under our current law, the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938, the FDA can not even require companies to conduct safety tests or require product recalls if something is found to be dangerous later on. As we enter 2012, it seems that a law made 74 years ago is likely to be outdated when pertaining to such a fast-paced and growing industry.
     In a society where we are so concerned with using cosmetics, it is difficult to simply spread awareness about the contents of many of these products; people will tend to use these items regardless simply because they do not understand the risk. Because of this and the impending health threat, I believe there are simple changes Congress can make in terms of what cosmetic companies can produce.
    That being said, I am asking you as a constituent to please vote in favor of the H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011. This law would close up numerous holes by reducing the number of toxins in everyday products such as shampoos, soaps, and moisturizers. Ingredients that have been linked to birth-defects and cancer will officially be banned from products and labeling loopholes will be eliminated so that consumers will understand exactly what they are purchasing. By not only allowing but actually enforcing data sharing among companies, animal testing will be significantly reduced because tests will not have to be repeated.
     The dangers of the cosmetic industry affect all of us- men, women, and children of all ages. Please consider co-sponsering the H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 and help keep Americans safe. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.