The Safe Chemical Act needs your muscle. For the first time, on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee will vote on the Safe Chemical Act. (See here for the list of senators on the committee.)
Why, Anna?
I have written “ad nausea” about the Safe Chemical Act as well as the toxic chemicals in our food, building products, etc. If you are like me, you are sick and tired of trying to decipher what chemicals are safe and which ones aren’t. (More the “aren’t” than the “is.”)
The problem is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976 and very few chemicals since then have been vetoed by the government. In fact, according to the Safer Chemicals, TSCA grandfathered 62,000 chemicals without scrutiny.
In my opinion, the chemical industry has been allowed to basically print money.
Whoa their Fellas.
Think of the Safe Chemical Act as the reigns of a runaway horse. The Safer Chemicals, Healthier Families states,
“[f]or the first time, the chemical industry must develop and provide information on the health and environmental safety of their chemicals, in order to enter or remain on the market. If no information is provided, the chemical would be prohibited from use in products and workplaces. Where there is data that shows potential concern, chemicals must be proven safe before entering commerce, just as is already required of pharmaceuticals and pesticides under other laws.”
It is high time we ask our senators to be accountable to their constituents and not the big bad lobby machine.
What Can You Do?
This is really important!
- Tell your senator to support the Act by signing up here. Let them know you are watching.
- Read the current report about the health risks associated with lack of chemical oversight.
- Get your community involved! Tweet and share on Facebook about the issue. Here are some cut and paste message to use on Facebook.
Sample Facebook messages:
HUGE news: the Safe Chemicals Act, a bill to protect our families from toxic chemicals will be voted on this week! Will you let your Senators know you’ll be watching? Please take action today and share with your friends
It’s go time. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, the Safe Chemicals Act is being voted on in committee this week! Please take action and ask your friends to show Congress that they must protect our families from toxic chemicals.
Breaking news: The Safe Chemicals Act will be voted on this week in committee, please take action today to show Congress we need to pass this bill! Please share with your friends, now is the time to call!
Sample Tweeatables on Twitter
Big news: the #SafeChemicalsAct is being voted on this week! Let your Senator know, you’ll be watching.
Supporting the #SafeChemicalsAct is mainstream, not extreme. @SenateFloor, I’ll be watching!
Hey Congress, Just say no to #JoeChemical and yes to the #SafeChemicalsAct. I’ll be watching …
Senator specific tweets from your state are encouraged:
Note, 21 senators have co-sponsored this bill. The Garden State’s Senators Lautenberg (lead sponor) and Menendez (co-sponsored) are aboard. Is your senator aboard?
Hey @SenAlexander, #Tennessee families are counting on your vote for the #SafeChemicalsAct! Vote YES today! OR
Thanks @SenGillibrand for being a sponsor and leader on the #SafeChemicalsAct, please vote for the strongest bill today!
Please get involved for the sake of our children and grandchildren. It takes a village.
Join the Conversation:
- Are you sick of having to decipher which chemicals are safe for your family?
- Is your senators for or against this bill?
- Did you tweet or FB the above message?
- Which chemicals are you most worried about?
Lindsay says
Thanks for the great post Anna! We need to work together to address toxic chemicals in our homes and workplaces, onward for the Safe Chemicals Act!
Anna@Green Talk says
Lindsay, I am so excited that the bill was passed in committee. Now, the senate! Anna