Today I embarked on my legislative education by attending a meeting at Congressman William Delahunt’s office in Hyannis regarding possible support of three upcoming initiatives, all related to toxic chemicals. Our band of seven activists met with Neva Flaherty, Cape/Islands representative for Health and Human Services, second from right, above. First Erin Boles (right, above), of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, described her hope that Rep. Delahunt will support the BPA Act of 2009, sponsored by Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Markey, and now being used as an amendment as part of a food safety bill. (One regular reader sent me important info on BPA, which I will share in a later post.) Erin also told Ms. Flaherty safe cosmetics legislation is due imminently, giving the FDA the authority to regulate toxic chemicals in personal care products and phase out known/suspected carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive developmental toxins. She requested that Rep. Delahunt join lead sponsors Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Schakowski. Cindy Luppi, left, above, of Clean Water Now, then addressed reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act, untouched since 1976, and flawed since 76,000 chemicals were exempt. She asked that Rep. Delahunt become a co-sponsor of a strong bill, one that also prevents federal pre-emption of state law. The seasoned activists provided background, including the startling fact that the European Union has banned over 1100 toxic chemicals in personal care products. The number for the USA? Nine! Wellfleet’s Kristen Shantz expressed her outrage that decades have passed and nothing has been done to control the contents of so many household products. “I want to trust when I chose a product,” she exclaimed. Sue Phelan of Green Cape brought up the “Red Cross” study of umbilical cord blood, spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group. (This study revealed the presence of up to 287 chemicals in umbilical cord blood.) No one had used the term “body burden,” so I did, speaking, for the first time in such a setting.
Having lived in France for 25 years, I had never before attended a meeting like this one, and it was an eye-opener. Ms. Flaherty listened for an hour. She plans to digest the material and send a memo to a colleague in Delahunt's DC office.
For years William Delahunt has been a supporter of Silent Spring, which is trying to figure out why Barnstable County has one of the highest breast cancer rates in the country. I hope he will decide to play a leading role in this effort to limit exposure to toxic chemicals.
Today’s experience made me realize the massive amounts of time, effort, and energy involved in changing legislation. I also developed a greater appreciation of Erin Brockovich for having succeeded in her campaign against Pacific Gas & Electric with regard to contamination of drinking water by chromium!
9 comments:
Alexandra: that's very cool! I hope you're able to get some new legislation enacted.
I'm impressed by how much patience and tenacity you have to have to begin to create change. Will be watching your progress with interest.
Alexandra,
I spent eleven years doing freelance television coverage of state legislative sessions -- always reminding the camera people I directed [who sometimes chafed at the lack of action shots] 'follow the story.' worked on legal research for the state supreme court for a while too and saw another part of the process up close. legislative action is -- or can be, anyway -- fascinating, and as you say, a lot of hard work
Following your story has been so interesting and inspiring. I echo what Ruth said. Keep on keeping on. Great job!
As a former top aide to a Congressman, I have been the staffer taking notes at many, many meetings. I must say that your group are excellent lobbyists. You had all the right ingredients--personal anecdotes, lots of concrete facts. The only thing I don't detect in your summary is specific acknowledgment of the opposition points and responses to knock them down.
Effective lobbying includes trying to change minds, but even more, means giving ammunition to the legislator.
Wouldn't it be so nice if we could know whether or not things like common cleaners and hair spray were or were not bad for us--without having to do a detailed research mission? Keep up the great work.
I'm enjoying following this great community activism story. Thanks, Alexandra!
Good job jumping into the fray. I'm so glad you are fighting this important fight!
It was an honor to join Alexandra and our merry band of Cape leaders in this meeting -- thanks to all! I believe Congressman Delahunt's staff was very impressed with the breadth of the group -- breast cancer leaders, environmentalists, nurses, hospitality industry, parents...all speaking out in support of modernizing our laws to respond to current science and prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals. The "what the opposition is saying" did come up in discussions about science -- the chemical industry likes to say that small amounts of chemicals are safe, whereas independent scientists say that's not necessarily the case. Small amounts of a hormone mimicking chemical can result in health damage like breast cancer decades after the exposure. New science also shows that the timing of contact with the chemical can be more important than the amount -- particularly for developing fetuses, small children, and adolescents at key growth moments...
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