H.R. 4556: Protect Our Treatment for Enamel, Erosion, and Tooth Health Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Protect Our Treatment for Enamel, Erosion, and Tooth Health Act (or Protect Our TEETH Act), aims to make changes to how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) handles rules related to fluoride in drinking water. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill would do:

Purpose of the Bill

The primary purpose of the bill is to ensure that any proposed rules about fluoride in drinking water undergo a thorough review by a reputable scientific body before they are finalized. Specifically, the bill mandates that the EPA must collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) to evaluate evidence related to fluoride levels.

Key Provisions

Rapid Response Evidence Review: Before the EPA can publish a proposed rule setting maximum contaminant levels for fluoride, it must seek to enter into an agreement with the NAS to conduct a rapid response evidence review. This process is meant to assess the scientific basis for the proposed rule.
Timeline for Review: The agreement with NAS must specify a review timeline of at least 90 days but not more than 180 days, ensuring that the review process is conducted in a timely manner.
Data Provision: The EPA is required to provide NAS with all relevant data and information it used to justify the proposed rule concerning fluoride.
Consideration of Results: The EPA must take into account any findings from the rapid response evidence review when determining the final outcome of the proposed rule.
Publication of Review Results: Any final report resulting from the evidence review must be included in the Federal Register along with the proposed rule, ensuring transparency in the process.
Funding: The bill allows the EPA to use existing funds to carry out the provisions pertaining to the rapid response evidence review.

Impact on Regulation of Fluoride

This bill aims to add a layer of scientific scrutiny to the regulations concerning fluoride in drinking water. By requiring an independent review of the evidence, the bill seeks to ensure that decisions made about fluoride levels are founded on credible scientific research, potentially affecting public health policies related to oral health.