Commerce Subcommittee Hearing Followed by Rally on the Mall
(Washington, DC) — A coalition of environmental health advocates are gearing up for a major overhaul of federal toxic chemical legislation, following last week’s introduction of a bill to reform the 34-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The coalition is running ads in today’s Politico and Roll Call featuring a young family as unwilling subjects in a chemical experiment. In addition, tomorrow a hearing will be held in the House Energy & Commerce Committee about TSCA reform, followed by a rally on the mall highlighting the links between toxic chemicals and serious diseases such as cancer, autism and asthma.
“Now is the time to reduce the burden of cancer, learning disabilities and other chronic health problems in this country,” said Andy Igrejas, Director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition. “Scientists and health professionals have pointed the way, but now it is up to Congress to crack down on toxic chemicals.”
Below are details on the three TSCA-related events happening in DC this week:
Ads in Roll Call & Politico — SCHF joined its partner organization Earth Justice to produce a provocative ad that is running today in the Capitol Hill newspapers Roll Call and Politico, publications whose readership includes most elected officials in federal government and their staffers. The ad depicts a young child and implies that she and her family are the subjects of an experiment without consent. View the full ad at http://www.saferchemicals.org/.
Congressional Hearing, Thursday, July 29, 10:00 am, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building — A Congressional hearing will be held in the House Energy and Commerce Committee (Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection) to discuss pending chemicals legislation that would provide stronger consumer protections. Members of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families expected to testify include: Richard Denison, Senior Scientist from the Environmental Defense Fund; Mark Mitchell, President of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice; and Howard Williams, Vice President of Construction Specialties.
“Race for the Cause,” Thursday, July 29, Capitol Reflecting Pool, 3rd St. SW & Maryland Ave, SW, 1:00 – 2:00 pm — SCHF is teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for a “Race for the Cause,” where a group will jog backwards to call for chemical policy reform, alongside a giant rubber ducky representing products made with toxic chemicals. Organizers point to TSCA reform as essential for preventative medical care that helps people ward off the underlying causes of sickness and disease. Instead of racing forward toward a cure, they will be racing backwards toward the cause. There will also be a press conference featuring Andy Igrejas from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families; Dr. Sarah Janssen from NRDC; and Brenda Afzal from American Nurses for a Healthy Environment.
