Go Congressman Inslee!
Congress has some serious work to do if the proposed Safe Chemicals Act is to deliver on the promise of protecting families and the environment from harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and toxic flame retardants.
A short six weeks ago, advocates cheered the introduction of the federal Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to overhaul the outdated chemical law called the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA) and ensure harmful chemicals are no longer allowed in products we use everyday.
But now the cheering has subsided and Congress has some serious work to do if the proposed legislation is to deliver on the promise of protecting families and the environment from chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and toxic flame retardants.
That’s because the current draft of the law has several glaring holes that continue the toxic status quo. It won’t require new chemicals to undergo safety testing before they are put on the market. This means each of us could be exposed to a harmful chemical for years before the government ensures it’s safe. It also doesn’t end the use of the worst of the worst chemicals, like lead or mercury, or chemicals we already know are harmful, like cancer-causing chemicals or hormone disruptors like formaldehyde and BPA.
Fortunately, we’ve got a hero in our own backyard—Washington State Congressman Jay Inslee (D-3). His past work to protect Puget Sound and kids from toxic chemicals and his position on the House committee responsible for moving the Safe Chemicals Act forward means he will play a pivotal role in determining how strong the bill will be.
Parents, consumers, and many more are lining up to tell Congressman Inslee and the rest of the Washington State House delegation they support closing the loopholes in the Safe Chemicals Act. Today, nearly 3000 Washingtonians sent Congressman Jay Inslee a message in a petition asking for his support of a stronger Safe Chemicals Act.
Inslee and the rest of Washington’s House delegation also received a letter signed by more than 25 Washington state-based organizations representing over 80,000 Washingtonians urging the delegation to strengthen the Safe Chemicals Act.
Inslee and the rest of the Congressional delegation will soon have the chance to stand strong for public health—word on the street is that the official version of the bill could be introduced any day. We’re rooting for Inslee and other potential champions to make sure the bill delivers the health protections we need.
Washington Toxics Coalition field organizer, Anna Davis, and WashPIRG
organizing director,
Tiffany Isaacs, deliver petitions to Congressman Jay Inslee's special
assistant, Patrick Hogan.
