New study of states shows bi-partisan support for toxics reform
Toxic chemical legislation is not just for the fringe anymore.
It's a mainstream problem, and is being solved across the country on the state level by cooperation from both sides of the political aisle.
Today, we released a report (pdf) in conjunction with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and SAFER States which shows that 18 states have passed 71 chemical safety laws in the last eight years by an overwhelming, bipartisan margin.
Massachusetts was not among these 18 states, unfortunately, as it has not passed the Safer Alternatives Bill or other chemical policy legislation, in recent years.
"This just goes to show how far Massachusetts is lagging behind other states at this point," said Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Legislative Director for Clean Water Action. "The makeup of our state government means that we don't even need bi partisan support to get legislation passed if the Democrats can get behind it. It's about time for the legislature and governor to make this happen."
Here's what the report found:
- In the last eight years, both the number of state chemical laws and the number of states passing toxic chemical reforms have tripled.
- State laws have been passed by overwhelming margins. When all votes are tallied, state legislators favored tighter regulation by a margin of support greater than 8 to 1.
- Of the votes cast, 99% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans voted in favor of regulatory laws.
- Laws targeting specific chemicals and products received the greatest attention and support. Sixty-six laws banned bisphenol A (BPA) in baby and toddler products (with 98% support), phased out toxic flame retardants (PBDEs) in home products (93%), reduced children’s exposure from common products containing lead (88%) and cadmium (86%), and promoted green cleaning (88%).
- State legislators strongly supported recent state laws that create new programs for broad regulation of toxic chemicals. This includes comprehensive laws passed in California, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state.
This study underscores what we already know: In the absence of strong legislation on the federal level, the states are filling in the gaps to protect our families.
A recent poll conducted by The Mellman Group found that 78% of Americans are seriously concerned about the threat to children's health from toxic chemicals in day-to-day life.
While Washington DC is stuck in chemical industry politics, many states are growing frustrated and taking matters into their own hands -- passing laws which will help to protect their citizens until such a day as Congress passes legislation to make the chemicals that are infiltrating every part of our lives as safe as is feasible.
Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow has several recommendations as a part of this study:
1. Massachusetts should pass state chemical legislation to protect Bay Staters' health and to drive the chemical industry to accept meaningful reform.
Time and again, it has been proven that state legislation makes a meaningful difference to the chemical industry. Often, companies will choose to change over their entire inventory to comply with one state's law, making the product safer for citizens nationwide. When the state of Maine outlawed the toxic flame retardant Deca-BDE from plastic shipping pallets, the major distributor of the pallets stated its intent to comply with that requirement nationwide.
2. The 112th Congress should make TSCA reform a top legislative priority.
Effective state policy action cannot substitute for broad federal reform that protects the health of all Americans, directly regulates the chemical industry and mobilizes federal resources and expertise to prevent chemical harm to workers, families and communities.
3. The chemical industry should support meaningful, commonsense federal reform.
Such significant reform will restore consumer confidence by providing Americans with the protection from toxic chemicals they demand.
4. Federal reform should continue to allow states to enact stronger protections when states determine they need such policies to protect their populations.
Federal legislation will lack credibility unless it protects the states’ ability to innovate through state regulation of toxic chemicals in partnership with the federal government.
You can read the full study here (pdf), or download the executive summary.
Material for this article was provided by Safer States.
