Griffith, Matsui Introduce Bill to Protect American Public with Safe Flammability Standards

U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Doris Matsui (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026. This measure requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a study that identifies potential safety risks and hazardous chemicals used as flame retardants in the interior of motor vehicles. The study will help update federal motor vehicle safety standards and require alternative standards to be evaluated.

"I am proud to continue leading with Congresswoman Matsui to ensure updated federal standards adequately protect American consumers' health," said Congressman Griffith. "In this latest effort, our Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026 will deliver a robust and thorough review of current motor vehicle flammability standards and evaluate potential alternatives. Because millions of Americans expect safe vehicles, it is only right for Congress to begin re-evaluating potential toxic chemical harms from motor vehicles."

"Federal safety standards should protect people, not expose them to unnecessary harm," saidCongresswoman Matsui. "I've fought to remove toxic, ineffective flame retardants from household furniture, but many of those same chemicals are still being used in car seats and other materials inside vehicles because of a decades old fire safety standard. Our bill directs NHTSA to study whether this rule is still effective at preventing deadly fires and what health risks these chemicals may pose, so we can make sure our safety standards are protecting people both from fire and from dangerous chemical exposure."

"I am proud to support the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Act of 2026, introduced by Representatives Matsui and Griffith. This bipartisan legislation strengthens public safety by directing a comprehensive review of current vehicle flammability standards to ensure they reflect modern materials, technologies, and real-world risks," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee. "As vehicles evolve, our safety standards must keep pace. This study will help identify potential gaps and ensure we are taking every step possible to protect drivers, passengers and first responders - helping save lives and prevent tragedy before it occurs."

"We often assume that if a car is on the market, it must be safe. But decades-old fire safety standards have led to the use of toxic chemicals in vehicles," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. "Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians deserve better, and this legislation would ensure that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fully evaluates and addresses these hazards. It is time to update these outdated rules and put the safety and health of all Americans first."

Numerous organizations expressed support for the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026:

"Everyone who rides in a car is needlessly exposed to cancer-causing, neurotoxic flame retardant chemicals because of a federal vehicle standard implemented in 1972 without research showing it provided a fire safety benefit. The Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act is an important first step towards updating that outdated standard so our cars can be both healthier and fire-safe." -Arlene Blum, Executive Director, Green Science Policy Institute

"When consumers get into a car, they should be able to trust that the fire safety standards meant to protect them aren't also putting them at risk through exposure to harmful chemicals. The current federal standard has been on the books for more than 50 years, largely unchanged, even as technology and scientific knowledge has advanced rapidly. Tens of thousands of consumers and a broad coalition of organizations are calling for action, and this bipartisan bill from Reps. Griffith and Matsui would be a vital first step." - Cooper Lohr, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumer Reports

"Fire fighters and the public deserve evidence-based vehicle safety standards. The science indicates that the use of flame retardants in cars creates unnecessary health risks. On behalf of our 365,000 members, I commend Reps. Griffith and Matsui for leading the effort to create vehicle safety standards that actually make cars safer. Congress should pass this legislation and bring us closer to a future free from toxic chemicals." - Edward A. Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters