Posted on July 28, 2013
“Statistics are people with the tears wiped away” – Prof. Irving Selikoff
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest independent asbestos victims’ organization in the U.S., is delighted and honored to announce that I have been invited to testify on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 9:30 AM EDT before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) as part of an expert panel during a full committee hearing entitled, “Strengthening Public Health Protections by Addressing Toxic Chemical Threats. ”
The hearing, to be held at 406 Dirksen in the Senate Office Building, will examine the need for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform to protect public health and our environment from chemicals.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and others have are strongly lobbying for the critically flawed Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA) – the bill ADAO opposes as currently written. I was shocked to find the ACC “Reform TSCA” website to lobby for the CSIA. ACC states, “Senator David Vitter, the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, and a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA)—historic legislation that will enhance public safety and promote innovation, economic growth, and job creation by American manufacturers.” Good grief!
Many of us are references in statistics and studies – but we are more than a number. We are the voice for those who have been silenced by asbestos-caused diseases or wage war today against cancers and respiratory diseases caused from toxic fibers. We are the force of change. We are one.
ADAO is proud to represent the voice of the asbestos victims and will hand deliver nearly 2,500 Ban Asbestos petition supporters’ signatures to Congress as part of my testimony. With each new signature, our voice gets stronger and harder to ignore. Sign the petition.
Together, change is possible.
Linda
U.S. Senate EPW Committee 18 Members include:
Barbara Boxer (Chairman)
David Vitter (Ranking Member)
Bernard Sanders
Deb Fischer
James M. Inhofe
Jeff Merkley
Jeff Sessions
John Barrasso
John Boozman
Kirsten Gillibrand
Max Baucus
Mazie K. Hirono
Mike Crapo
Roger F. Wicker
Sheldon Whitehouse
Thomas R. Carper
Tom Udal