Good news first: the Oregon House of Representatives passed the Toxics Disclosure for Healthy Kids Act last week. But it won’t become law until the Senate passes it, too. Which is why we’re writing you now: your voice carries weight with your senator, and senators need to know ASAP that their constituents want them to vote “yes” on this healthy kids’ bill.
Why do we need this bill? Simple: Moms (and dads) shouldn’t have to have a PhD in chemistry to buy safe toys, pajamas or mattresses for their kids. And right now, that’s how it feels. We’re on our own to hunt for non-toxic products because there are no requirements that manufacturers tell us what chemicals they put in their products. We think manufacturers should be clear with their customers if there are hazardous chemicals in their products, because WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!
We were excited this year to endorse the Toxics Disclosure for Healthy Kids Act (HB 3162), which would require product manufacturers to disclose any high-priority toxic chemicals in kids’ products. The state of Oregon would create and maintain a list of harmful chemicals that are used in kids’ products. The best part? Manufacturers would need to devise a plan to phase out their use of known toxicants within five years.
But guess what? Washington D.C. lobbyists and groups like Associated Oregon Industries are working overtime right now to make sure this bill doesn’t pass. They’d rather see our kids poisoned than have the industries that produce kids’ products be regulated. Does that work for you? It most certainly doesn’t work for us.
You can help this bill’s potential for success by emailing your senator in Salem right now. They *really* need to hear from concerned Oregonians, not just industry lobbyists. This is our window, folks, and it will close at the end of this month, if not sooner.
Just click here to send a quick message – we promise it’ll take less than 5 minutes – and they’ll be 5 very well spent minutes!
We are down to the wire this session, and if we don’t act right now – we’ll have to wait at least another year for another chance to protect our kids from harmful chemicals that don’t belong in childrens’ products. We’d rather win now, thanks!
Thank you for adding your voice to this fight (and it is a fight).
P.S. For more info about the bill: http://www.oeconline.org/toxicfree