Posted on March 12, 2019
Tomorrow, there will be an oversight hearing regarding public health and the environment. The hearing is set to be held on Wednesday, March 13. We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for their leadership and continued efforts to protect public health and our environment.
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change will hold the hearing at 10:30 am ET in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building and is entitled, “Mismanaging Chemical Risks: EPA’s Failure to Protect Workers.” As stated in the Memorandum from Chairman Pallone, “The hearing will examine EPA’s assessment and management of risks to workers from toxic chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other laws.”
These hearings are extremely important as it is time to hold EPA accountable for the threats against public health such as asbestos. Although asbestos kills nearly 40,000 Americans each year, and there are decades of proof that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, EPA continues to allow imports and use in the U.S. while minimizing the threat of this lethal carcinogen.
Witnesses include:
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- Adam M. Finkel, Sc.D., CIH, Clinical Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Wendy Hutchinson, On behalf of the Baltimore Teachers Union
- Giev Kashkooli, Vice President, United Farm Workers
- Patrick Morrison, Assistant to the General President for Health, Safety, and Medicine, International Association of Firefighters
- Jeaneen McGinnis, Benefits Representative, United Auto Workers
- Tom Grumbles, CIH, FAIHA, Former President, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Past President, Product Stewardship Society (on behalf of AIHA)
- Mark Duvall, Principal, Beveridge & Diamond PC
Many of you will remember Patrick Morrison’s powerful keynote speech at our 14th ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference or his numerous Congressional Staff Briefing presentations. Check out his keynote speech video here.
Thanks to the transparency and technology, any and all individuals can watch a livestream of the hearings online. To watch the 10:30 am ET hearing, “Mismanaging Chemical Risks: EPA’s Failure to Protect Workers” click here. The time for change is now.
Linda Reinstein