As Congress debates changes to the way we regulate chemicals, I hope they will consult our leading experts in medicine and science, and not simply the chemical lobby. These experts look through the lens of innovation.

I have a lot of faith in human ingenuity. If we can have a 3-D printer, bionic eyes and a phone that knows where we are, I believe we can have everyday products that don’t contain toxic chemicals that pollute our homes and bodies.

Industry lobbyists have shown they will push for a lax timeline, loopholes for imports, poor enforcement, and continued use of chemicals we know to cause enormous harm because the businesses they represent want to protect their profits.

I ask Sens. Murphy and Blumenthal to be skeptical of any reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act that fails to address these flaws. I have faith that, if we set a high standard for health and safety, America’s leading innovators will meet that standard.

Susan Zimmerman

Hanover