WASHINGTON, DC -- Representative Jan Schakowsky, ranking member on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, in a mark-up before the Energy and Commerce Committee today introduced two amendments that would ensure that foreign investments in the U.S. do not threaten homeland security, and would protect the environment against a hazardous substance.

Schakowsky’s committee statement is below:

Thank you, Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell for holding today’s markup on three bills that could have serious implications for the safety of our environment and the safety of our country. I would like to say a few short words on all three.

I am concerned that H.R. 4591 would make it difficult, if not impossible, to properly regulate Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the United States because it seems to have been designed to preempt states’ authority to regulate substances that are subject to the Stockholm treaty. The bill also establishes a new cost-benefit standard that must be met before the U.S. can regulate a newly-listed POP and lacks strong enough language to force a timely implementation of a POPs Convention decision. I urge the committee to accept the Solis substitute which implements the Stockholm Convention’s treaty and its science- based process in an effective, efficient way. The Solis substitute would protect the public health from the effects of the world's most toxic pollutants.

I am also concerned about the antifreeze bill before this Committee today. I am disappointed that the Chairman has bi-passed the Subcommittee markup process to bring forward a controversial bill that would shield the chemical industry from willful misconduct and pre-empt strong state laws. I have been a strong supporter of antifreeze bittering legislation in the past, but the changes in this year’s legislation put corporate interests before consumer safety.

I plan to introduce an amendment to H.R. 2567 today that would eliminate the environmental liability waiver. We do not have the science to conclusively prove that Denatonium Benzoate (DB) is safe, and Americans who live near chemical plants around the country should not be used as guinea pigs. Congress should not strip the civil justice system of its ability to decide whether corporations should be held liable for environmental damage.

Finally, the recent attempt by Dubai Ports World to purchase the operations of six major U.S. ports made it quite clear that it is time to reform the Exon-Florio process of CFIUS, which determines what can be bought in the U.S. by foreign entities. Although the Dubai Ports World deal was effectively ended on March 9th when the company said it would transfer its operations of American ports to a "U.S. entity," I believe that it is a telling example of why we need to insist upon a more open and informed process of approving foreign investment in the U.S. I look forward to supporting the Barton-Dingell-Stearns-Schakowsky manager’s amendment which would hold CFIUS more accountable for its decision by adding reporting requirements to Congress. Thank you.