Carlstadt, NJ - Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced legislation to impose federal standards on glass beads used for reflective highway markings and for other purposes. Each year more than 500 million pounds of glass beads are used on U.S. highways to stripe pavement and for inclusion in electronics and other products. Substandard imported glass beads could undercut the U.S. domestic beads industry and eliminate jobs in New Jersey and other states. Studies also show that the presence of heavy metals in beads manufactured abroad not only expose American workers using the beads to contaminants; the beads have the potential of leaching toxic substances into surface water and groundwater. The legislation will help protect the health of workers, U.S. jobs, and the environment.
"We cannot let foreign companies undermine US manufacturers by dumping cheap, toxic glass beads on our market. I intend to protect jobs, protect worker health, and protect the environment with one national standard for arsenic and lead in glass beads," said Senator Menendez.
"Potters Industries and its employees are appreciative of the Senator's sponsorship of legislation which focuses on key issues which are affecting our industry. We are confident that passage of this legislation is the right and responsible way of maintaining good paying American jobs while protecting worker safety and the environment." Said Scott Randolph- President Potters Industries.
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