On March 25th the U.S. House voted to approve the rewrite of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which dictates how industrial chemicals are tested and regulated. This is a BIG deal for pretty much everybody who has a body, as studies draw correlation between exposure to industrial chemicals, like DEHP for instance (a phthalate in the plasticizer of PVC tubing used for blood transfusions), endocrine distruptors, cancer, and a lot of other really bad things. And DEHP is one of MANY, MANY chemicals that have been placed on industry and activist watch-dog lists alike. After it passes Senate, it's off to be signed by President Obama, who according to the White House, supports the Reform.
I went with the Society of Plastics Industry a few years ago to D.C. to lobby on behalf of TSCA reform. Here is a picture of me with the gang (and Honest Abe!) and our Congressman Randy Hultgren.