June 5, 2025
Ms. Brown (for herself, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, and Ms. Pressley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for research, investigation, and awareness of the effect of personal care products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the female reproductive system, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Health and Endocrine Research on personal care products for women Act
or the HER Act
.
Sec. 2. Grants for research, investigation, and awareness regarding endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products
(a) Research grants
(1) In general
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, shall award grants for research on the impact of personal care products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the female reproductive system and related reproductive toxicity concerns.
(2) Reports
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly available on the appropriate website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report based on the results of the research under paragraph (1). Such report shall—
(A)
outline research developments and findings related to disparities in access to safe non-endocrine-disrupting personal care products;
(B)
list safe and harmful personal care products, as determined by the Secretary; and
(C)
include evidence-based or evidence-informed legislative or administrative strategies to increase the Food and Drug Administration’s domain to regulate personal care product ingredients that are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that harm women’s reproductive health.
(b) State grants for investigation and awareness
(1) In general
The Secretary shall award grants to States for carrying out—
(A)
programs to investigate the impact of personal care products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals on women’s reproductive health; and
(B)
programs to develop and implement public awareness and education campaigns about the use of alternative personal care products that are less harmful to human health.
(2) Reports
Not later than 5 years after the initial awarding of grants under paragraph (1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly available on the appropriate website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report summarizing the findings and results of the programs and activities funded through the grants under paragraph (1).
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Endocrine-disrupting chemical
The term endocrine-disrupting chemical means a chemical that mimics, blocks, or interferes with the body’s hormones.
(2) Personal care product
The term personal care product means a product that—
(A)
is a cosmetic (as defined in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321)); and
(B)
is intended to support the hygiene, grooming, or other personal care of the human body.
(3) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(4) State
The term State means—
(A)
each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States; and
(B)
an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).