Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Legislative Positions (June 2015)
Posted on April 20, 2015
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and many of its partners see today as a critical historical moment to influence “hazardous chemical” legislation that will affect – and hopefully protect – generations to come. Toward this end, ADAO and its partners have launched “The Real TSCA Reform Coalition.” EWG Action Fund, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and Trevor’s Trek Foundation are among the members.
Support The Real TSCA Reform Coalition and sign the “Say No to Toxic Chemicals” petition NOW!
Undoubtedly, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 is in need of reform. The 40-year-old bill is no longer relevant, nor does it protect American citizens from the hazards of toxic chemicals such as asbestos…along with 80,000 other dangerous chemicals! Unsurprisingly, discussions currently in the Republican-dominated Congress claim reform but in reality perpetuate a weak system of hazardous chemical regulation. Although “The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act,“ proposed by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and David Vitter (R-La.) claims “bipartisan” support, its weak language leaves Americans still unprotected from dangerous chemicals and refuses to implement effective review measures or enforce regulation on the many currently unregulated hazardous chemicals that we breathe, smell, touch…and naively give to our children.
ADAO was honored to join Senators Boxer and Markey’s recent press conference on the Hill in Washington, D.C. in an effort to raise congressional awareness on the need to enact meaningful TSCA Reform and toward this end promote support for “The Alan Reinstein & Trevor Schaefer Toxic Chemical Protection Act.” ADAO will also be sending representative Dr. Laurie Welch, to Senator Boxer’s press conference today, April 20, 2015, speaking out against the Udall-Vitter bill. Other attendees of the press conference included: Erin Brockovich, environmental activist; Trevor Schaefer, Co-founder and President of Trevor’s Trek Foundation and brain cancer survivor; Matthew Rodriguez, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency; Lemuel Srolovic, Chief of the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Office of New York State; Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman; Andrew Goldberg, Assistant Attorney General of the Environmental Protection Division of the Office of Massachusetts; Attorney General Maura Healey; Nancy Buermeyer of the Breast Cancer Fund; Ashley Orgain of Seventh Generation; and Jessica Arons, President and CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (RHTP).
See the summary video after ADAO and others attended the press conference with Senators Boxer and Markey:
Speakers included:
ADAO and our partners need your help in supporting the “The Real TSCA Reform Coalition” by signing the “Say No to Toxic Chemicals” petition. Sign the petition now to ensure that our government has a plan to regulate toxic chemicals and protect its citizens from them!
Thank you for your help driving this campaign! Together, we can make a difference.
Linda
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To learn more about TSCA reform, the recently proposed congressional legislation, and how to make your voice heard, please reference ADAO’s previous relevant blogs listed below.
April 20, 2015: Senator Boxer and ADAO Representative, Dr. Laurie Welch, to Hold Press Conference to Call for Real Reform of Toxic Chemical Law
April 20, 2015: REAL TSCA REFORM Press Release: Public Health and Environmental Coalition Pushes for Real Reform of Federal Chemicals Policy
March 18, 2015: Boxer Statement on Legislative Hearing: “Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act”
March 17, 2015: Senator Boxer’s Statement for Press Conference on Udall-Vitter TSCA Bill
March 15, 2015: The Alan Reinstein and Trevor Schaefer Toxic Chemical Protection Act Summary.
March 15, 2015: NEW ADAO SPECIAL EDITION eNewsletter: NEW Legislation – Your Support is Crucial!
March 16, 2015: GOP Pushing Hard! EPW Legislative Hearing: Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act
March 15, 2015: CALL TO ACTION: Say NO to Toxic Chemicals, Say YES to the Boxer Markey TSCA Reform S.725
March 13, 2015: ADAO Supports the Introduction of the Reducing Exposure to Asbestos Database (READ) Act
March 12, 2014: Enough is Enough. ADAO Calls on Congress to Draft and Pass True TSCA Reform Legislation