Youth Poisoning Protection Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, as well as his leadership and that of Chair Bilirakis on this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Youth Poisoning Protection Act alongside Representative Mike Carey because we are facing an urgent and deeply troubling trend, the promotion of sodium nitrite, a toxic chemical, as a method to die by suicide.
In 2022, The New York Times revealed the existence of online suicide forums that don't just discuss suicide, they promote it. Anonymous users on these platforms encourage vulnerable children and young adults to end their lives, and they often suggest using this chemical to do it.
Now, most Americans have never heard of sodium nitrite, but for families who have lost loved ones, it is something they will never forget. In lower concentrations, it is a chemical used safely to cure meats and fish, but in higher concentrations it is deadly. For the few who have survived attempts to end their lives using sodium nitrite, they report agonizing pain as the chemical deprives their body of oxygen.
After learning how easy it is to purchase high-concentration sodium nitrite, my office worked with retailers to limit access to businesses with a proven use for the chemical, but some sites still openly market it as part of a so-called suicide kit to people in crisis.
There is no Federal law that allows us to stop this. That is where this bipartisan legislation comes in. The Youth Poisoning Protection Act would restrict sales of sodium nitrite above 10 percent concentration to businesses with verified industrial or commercial use. That threshold is based on expert recommendations for safe handling and won't interfere with legitimate industries like food processing.
This bill is focused and reasonable. It targets bad actors who are exploiting a loophole to profit off tragedy, and it does so without burdening responsible businesses. That is why, last Congress, this bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously before passing it here on the floor with overwhelming support. Now we must finish the job.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Youth Poisoning Protection Act.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source