Full-court press for chemical security!

On March 11, the House Homeland Security Committee formally introduced the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 (H.R. 5577) with 19 co-sponsors.

We want 16 more co-sponsors by the end of this month. 

Please sign this letter to your representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor the U.S. PIRG-backed bill, to protect American communities from toxic chemicals.

Text of the letter: 

Dear Representative,

A deliberate or accidental release of toxic chemicals could kill or seriously injure thousands of Americans. The best way to deal with this threat is to replace toxic chemicals with safer technologies, especially because many safer alternatives already exist.

I urge you to co-sponsor comprehensive chemical security legislation that promotes the replacement of toxic chemicals with safer technologies—H.R. 5577, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008. 

H.R. 5577 will:
- Require high-risk chemical facilities to use safer chemicals or methods that "reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack" as long as they do not shift risks and are technically feasible and cost effective.

- Eliminate the current law's exemption of approximately 3,000 drinking water and wastewater facilities.

- Involve plant employees in the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans and provide protection for whistleblowers.

-  Protect state authority to establish stronger security standards.

Sincerely,

Food Safety, Healthy Kids

Petition Text Dear USDA Secretary Vilsack, More than 23,000 kids got sick from food served in schools between 1998 and 2007. We should make sure that our kids are getting safe, healthy food in school by: · Requiring meat inspections before the meat is ground. · Adopting science-based safety standards for all school lunch meat. · Notifying schools directly about recalls, and creating a national database to help school officials avoid food companies with a history of safety problems.

First Name Last Name Address City State StateALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY Zip Code Phone Number Email Address

Tell our senators to make food safer

Each year, about 76 million Americans get sick from the food they eat. Each year 5,000 people die from foodborne illness.  Recently, 380 million eggs with a high risk of salmonella were only recalled months after people started getting sick.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) will give FDA the authority to recall unsafe food; to inspect food processing facilities; and to require imported foods to meet the same standards as food produced in the U.S.

S. 510 passed the House of Representatives in July 2009, but the Senate has not yet brought it to a vote.

Sign the petition below to urge our senators to support the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510).

Petition Text Dear Senators, It took months before Wright County Eggs recalled their eggs, even as Americans were getting sick. That's because the FDA can't actually require food companies to recall salmonella-tainted food, regardless of the threat to public health. Recalling salmonella-tainted eggs -- or any unsafe food -- shouldn't be voluntary. When you go back to Washington, D.C. in September, please pass the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510. Sincerely,

First Name Last Name Address City State StateALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY Zip Code Phone Number Email Address