Dear John,

Toxic chemicals lurk in the items we use everyday, potentially endangering us to numerous health risks like cancer, reproductive disruption, and endocrine disruption. Hazardous chemicals can be found in children’s toys, in our schools through lawn pesticides, and in cosmetics and personal care products. 

Three bills being considered in the legislature would protect Oregonians from toxic chemical exposure, and it’s urgent that we take action now. Industry opponents continue to lobby against these bills––prioritizing profit over protecting people, particularly our children, from toxic chemicals. So it is imperative that you reach out to your state representative and show your support for these three bills! 

HB 3043 (Toxic Free Kids Modernization) aims to protect children from toxic chemicals by streamlining and increasing the efficiency of the current Toxic Free Kids Program, allows the state to regulate entire classes of chemicals such as PFAS (also known as cancer-causing forever chemicals), and requires reporting of brand-name and product models to be easier for regular people to understand.

SB 426 (Toxic Free Schools) aims to protect children by implementing safer pesticide use practices and preventing illegal pesticide use in Oregon schools through resources and technological assistance to school districts. It also seeks to modernize the pesticide record-keeping processes and provide equitable pest management support for schools.

SB 546 (Toxic Free Cosmetics) requires cosmetic manufacturers to disclose all chemical ingredients in their products on their company websites. It would also regulate or prohibit the sale of the worst classes of chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products––such as formaldehyde (a well known carcinogen) and formaldehyde releasers. 

We need your voice to protect our communities from toxic chemicals. These bills are moving forward and getting scheduled for hearings, so let’s keep the positive momentum going! Take action today to urge your lawmakers to vote YES on the Toxic Free Bill Package!

Thank you for all that you do,

Julia DeGraw

Coalition Director, OLCV