[DEHC] One Month Left for Safer Alternatives Bill

[Rosanne.Foley at dotwell.org]

The Safer Alternatives bill needs to pass in the House by the end of June. 

Increase the pressure now to make it happen!
 Ask your friends to send an easy on-line postcard!
The Safer Alternatives bill will create a program to replace toxic 
chemicals with Safer Alternatives wherever feasible. It has passed the 
Senate, but must pass the House by the end of June if it is going to 
become law this year.  It’s hugely important to protecting our health! See 
more information below.
Thanks to lots of phone calls and emails from you, 85 Representatives 
signed a letter of support for the Safer Alternatives Bill that was 
delivered to Speaker DiMasi last week.  Click here to find out if your 
Representative signed on [link to 
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2008/04/10/signonletter/]
That leaves many Representatives who have not shown support for the bill. 
We also must keep the pressure up on bill supporters because they need to 
press House leadership for a vote on the bill in June. We can’t win if 
they don’t vote in time!
On the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow website [link to 
www.healthytomorrow.org] there is a Safer Alternatives Bill Action page 
for each Representative. 
Take action:
First: Visit the Safer Alternatives Bill Action page for your 
Representative and write a personal message to tell your Representative 
why you want this bill to pass 
INSERT “SEND A MESSAGE” BUTTON LINKED TO 
www.healthytomorrow.org/replistintro
Second: Forward this message.  Ask everyone you know to visit the Safer 
Alternatives Bill Action Page for their Representatives and tell their 
personal stories too! 
Your personal story will motivate your Representative.  Do you have kids, 
grandkids, nieces or nephews that you want to protect?  Have you or 
someone you know suffered from an illness that is linked to toxic 
chemicals?  Have you been exposed to a toxic chemical in your workplace? 
Do you have a product that you love that you wish was safe?  Make your 
story known!!!  Your story will help inspire your Representative to 
support the bill and to fight to pass it. 
Countering the Opposition: 
There are powerful and well funded industry groups lobbying hard to 
prevent this bill from passing.  Your voice is our power to counteract 
those messages.  The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow will be refuting 
their arguments with facts, but your communication will be key to us 
winning the support of all Representatives.
About the Safer Alternatives Bill
The Safer Alternatives Bill (S-2481An Act to Promote Safer Alternatives to 
Toxic Chemicals), sponsored by Representative Jay Kaufman and Senator 
Steven Tolman, will establish a pragmatic, gradual approach to reducing 
health impacts from many toxic chemicals we are exposed to in everyday 
life. This approach targets the worst toxic chemicals in 
Massachusetts-chemicals that are currently replaceable with safer 
alternatives for many uses. The bill mandates a careful process to 
evaluate alternatives and replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives 
where feasible. It also stimulates research and development on new 
technologies and solutions when a safer option is not currently workable. 
For workers and businesses, it proposes programs to assist in the 
transition, funded through a fee on toxic chemicals. It was passed 
unanimously by the Senate on January 29th. It is currently before the 
House Committee on Ways and Means.
Please raise your voice by writing an online postcard to your 
Representative today (link to www.healthytomorrow.org/replistintro)
for more information:
Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow
262 Washington Street, Suite 301 
Boston, MA 02108 
617-338-8131