Dear State Senators: support the Toxic Free Kids and Families Act!

Dear Senators, Wish You Were Here:

Tales of Postcard Gathering for the Toxic Free Kids and Families

While running some errands at Crossroads Mall the other week, I was surprised—and pleased—to see table of volunteers from the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) talking to shoppers and gathering post cards supporting the Toxic Free Kids and Families Act. As a supporter for years of the work the WTC does on behalf of our community, I have been following their efforts these last four years to pass this important legislation – seeking to ban proven toxic flame retardants from children’s products and home furnishings and ensuring that chemical companies cannot just replace one bad chemical for another. The effort is gaining steam in the state legislature and supporters are excited with the buzz that is being generated. Recently, the House of Representative passed the bill with overwhelming bi-partisan support (72-25). Now it’s up to the Senate.

Unfortunately, as in previous years, the Senate seems to get caught up in trying to appease out-of-state-chemical companies, even though there is tremendous support within their communities for this legislation that protects children, firefighters, and the rest of our families from these unnecessary toxic chemicals.  The list of supporters of this bill is lengthy, including doctors and nurses, the American Lung Association, educators, child safety advocates, state firefighters and fire chief organizations, pollution prevention groups Audubon societies, religious organizations and more.  Read more here.

So, to send a clear message to area Senators Rodney Tom (R-48), Andy Hill (R-45), Steve Litzow (R-41), Pam Roach (R-31) and Joe Fain (R-47) that people want couches, chairs, child carseats, changing pads, and nap mats (among other things) to be free of toxic flame retardants, Washington Toxics Coalition volunteers were on the ground answering questions and gathering postcards from the public to be delivered to the Senator’s desks in Olympia. I saw messages written such as “These toxic chemicals are bad for our children and all of us!” and, “We shouldn’t even have to ask you these questions. There has to be a way for Washington to stop this.”

As a wife and mom with a public health degree, it is a priority of mine to make our home as free from toxic chemicals as I can, and it amazes me that we should have to fight politicians for the right to say no to these questionably effective yet proven toxins in our household furnishings. We should all be able to knowingly purchase goods for our homes that are free from unwanted carcinogens.

You can help by contacting your state Senator and asking them to please support the Toxic Free Kids and Families Act (ESHB 1294 and SB 6540)  You can find your Senator’s contact info here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Together we can get this done for the health of our families and communities!

For more information contact Rebecca @rsayre@watoxics.org / 206.632.1545 x 125