Update on Federal Tanning Legislation According to GovTrack.us

H.R. 1676: Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act of 2011 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr1676

Sponsor:

Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY14]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/carolyn_maloney/400251

Co-sponsors:

Rep. Charles Dent [R-PA15]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/charles_dent/400648

Rep. Jesse Jackson [D-IL2]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jesse_jackson/400198

Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH10]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/dennis_kucinich/400227 (joined May 11, 2011)

Rep. James “Jim” Moran [D-VA8]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/james_moran/400283 (joined Jun 14, 2011)

Rep. Gerald Connolly [D-VA11]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/gerald_connolly/412272 (joined Jun 21, 2011)

Rep. Joe Courtney [D-CT2]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/joe_courtney/412193 (joined Jun 21, 2011)

Rep. James “Jim” McGovern [D-MA3]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/james_mcgovern/400263 (joined Jul 08, 2011)

Rep. Edward “Ed” Markey [D-MA7]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/edward_markey/400253 (joined Oct 06, 2011)

Rep. Jackie Speier [D-CA12]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jackie_speier/412259 (joined Oct 06, 2011)

Rep. Jim Cooper [D-TN5]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jim_cooper/400081 (joined Dec 08, 2011)

Rep. Eddie Johnson [D-TX30]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/eddie_johnson/400204 (joined Jan 31, 2012)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR3]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/earl_blumenauer/400033 (joined Feb 28, 2012)

Prognosis:

This bill has a *0%* chance of being enacted. The following factors were considered:

• This bill was a re-introduction of H.R. 4520 (111th) from the previous session of Congress. (-3%)
• The sponsor is a member of the minority party. (-2%)
• There is at least one cosponsor from the majority party and one cosponsor outside of the majority party. (+2%)
• Just 4% of all House bills in 2009–2010 were enacted.

It is still important to contact your legislators about this Bill. As you can tell very few Bills introduced become Law, but we, as dermatology nurses need to keep people talking about it.

Think about the teenage girl that is seen in your office for acne, she wants to tan before prom because “it makes my acne better”. We want to be sure that she and her parents understand that using a tanning bed increases her risk for skin cancer.

This Bill has the potential to decisively let the public know:

1. That tanning beds are dangerous, by reclassifying them in line with what we know about their risks.

• Changing the FDA classification from its current Class 1 ”generally safe” to a more stringent risk level - the evidence is growing, tanning beds are increasing skin cancer incidence.

2. Revise performance standards and monitoring for the tanning industry to increase public safety. In the recently released reports conducted for the US House of Representatives committee on Energy and Commerce minority staff:

• Nearly all salons denied the known risks of indoor tanning.
• Four out of five salons falsely claimed that indoor tanning is beneficial to a young person’s health.
• Salons used many approaches to downplay the health risks of indoor tanning.
• Tanning salons fail to follow FDA recommendations on tanning frequency.
• Tanning salons target teenage girls in their advertisements.

Find the full report at http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Tanning%20Investigation%20Report%202.1.12.pdf.

3. Revise the current warning label to make the warning more clear to the user.

• In 2008, the FDA tested 2 different warning labels. They reported that consumers found one easier to read and that they would be more likely to read it.

Find the full report at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/Overview/MedicalDeviceUserFeeandModernizationActMDUFMA/ucm109296.pdf.

We strongly encourage our members to write or email their US Representatives to let them know we think changing tanning bed regulations is important to us and the health of the nation! Letter template here.