Protect Our TEETH Act

H.R. 4556, titled the Protect Our TEETH Act, would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek and enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a rapid review of the scientific evidence regarding proposed fluoride-related rules. Specifically, before the EPA publishes a proposed rule to set or revise the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) or the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water, the agency must have NASEM perform a rapid evidence review within 90 to 180 days, share all data used to justify the rule with NASEM, and consider the review results in finalizing the rule. The final report from NASEM would be published as part of the proposed rule. The bill also allows the EPA to use existing funds to carry out these requirements. The purpose appears to be to add external scientific scrutiny and transparency to fluoride standard-setting.