Help! The Chemical Industry Is Winning!

We’re shocked. Sad. And angry. Last night, the Toxic-Free Kids Act was voted out of committee, but with an amendment written by the chemical industry that removed the most important parts of the bill.  Now, children won’t be protected from these cancer-causing Tris flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in toys, baby blankets, and other items, unless the Senate votes to strengthen the bill by next Tuesday. 

Your Senator is a critical vote for strengthening the Toxic-Free Kids Act. She/He needs hear from you that you want her/him to strengthen the bill by supporting an amendment to put back the strong protections to ban chlorinated Tris and look for safer chemicals.

Call the legislative hotline 1.800.562.6000 to leave a message! Here’s a sample message:

“Hi, my name is __________ and I live in X District. I am really concerned about cancer-causing flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in children’s products and our homes. I support a strong Toxic-Free Kids Act (SB 6120). Please tell Senator _____ to put children’s health first and restore the full chlorinated Tris ban and review of safer alternatives in the bill.”

We need to let our legislators know they should put our kids' health first, not chemical industry profits! Originally, the bill contained bans on both TDCPP (chlorinated Tris) and TCEP (another Tris chemical), as well as requirements for companies to start assessing safer alternatives to formaldehyde, BPA, and antimony in children’s products.  But after the industry’s amendment weakened the bill, the only thing left is the ban on TCEP, which is hardly even used in children’s products anymore. 

It’s clear the chemical industry is winning in Olympia.  Your Senator needs to hear from you that the Toxic-Free Kids Act is critical to protect children’s health. Tell him/her to strengthen to the bill and stand up to the chemical industry.

One more time, the legislative hotline is 1.800.562.6000

Image courtesy of flickr user brokinhrt2