How Congress is (finally!) working to make all our products safer for our kids.

Pipette believes it’s crucially important we take care of our little ones by creating nontoxic skincare for babies and moms. But we also believe that all products—not just ours—should be safe. This is why we support stronger cosmetic and personal care safety laws. And we have some good news! Although several congressional bills have been presented over the last decade or so, none have even made it past the first Congress committees…until this past week. For the first time in nearly 82 years, a cosmetic safety bill has passed through a Subcommittee! H.R.5279, the Cosmetic Safety Enhancement Act, would give the FDA the authority to review and ban ingredients of concern, require adverse event reporting, and initiate the recall of products deemed unsafe—something that doesn’t exist in present laws.

There is still much work to be done, and we’ve got months—or years—to go before we know whether this bill has a chance of passing into law. Below is an overview of what it would take to bring this bill into law, which is why, as concerned parents, we need your help. Contact your Congress member and let them know that you support this bill and demand that safe products be made the norm. Remind them that they and their families deserve safe products as well—it’s not a privilege, it’s a right for us all!

If you’re not sure who your Congress member is, don’t worry—you can find them here.

What will it take to bring the Cosmetic Safety Enhancement Act into law?

• Since the bill has passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Health Subcommittee, the next step is for the bill to be reviewed by the full Committee.

• If the bill is released from Committee, it goes to the House floor, where members may propose amendments or revise text.

• Next, the bill is voted on, and if it passes the House floor, it moves to the Senate where it is assigned to another committee for review and potential debate and revision.

• Then just like in the House, if the bill is released from Committee, it goes to the Senate floor, where members may propose amendments or revise text.

• The Senate then votes on the bill, and if it passes, the House and Senate need to align on whatever amendments or revisions they’ve made in a final compromise.

• Once a compromise is agreed upon, it goes to the President, where it is either approved with a signature into law; or is commented on and vetoed.

• A vetoed bill may return to Congress for reconsideration.

• Some sticky points:

• If the President doesn’t act on a bill within 10 days, it automatically becomes law.
• If Congress recesses during the 10 days after the bill is sent to the President and it does not get signed, the bill is automatically vetoed.

Clear as mud, right? We know—it’s beyond complicated! (Our all-time favorite bill-into-law explanation is the iconic Schoolhouse Rock music video, “I’m Just A Bill”). But remember: our voices matter. Contact your Congress member!