A healthier, greener back-to-school
August 13, 2015
Today, 11 states have legislation in place requiring “green cleaning” in schools and five more are considering such policies. These policies are delivering better health, attendance and student performance, even as they reduce costs. When will all states adopt 21st century safer cleaning practices?
Don't shut down state power to protect people from toxic chemicals
June 04, 2015
Things are heating up in the Capitol over reforming our deeply broken chemical regulations. With a Senate bill full of red tape and potential loopholes, it's more important than ever that states retain the right to protect their people from toxic chemicals.
Thank you for safer floors in our homes!
May 11, 2015
Home Depot and Lowe's have agreed to phase out toxic phthalates from their vinyl flooring by the end of 2015. Why? Because people who vote with their dollars want safer products.
Chemical safety reform ignites fiery negotiations
May 05, 2015
A bill to reform chemical policy is on its way to the Senate floor, even as fiery debate continues over essential details, including the role of states. Meanwhile, states keep moving on protective chemical policy at home.
Chemical policy reform: It's ugly, complicated + personal
April 14, 2015
Things can get ugly, complicated and personal when Congress debates reform of the long-broken Toxic Substances Control Act. Safer state experts help keep the mission clear; but we need individual voices to speak up, too.
Justice Served: Attorney General Lawyer-Speak on Toxics
March 19, 2015
If someone were threatening to take away your rights, you’d talk to a lawyer. But what if someone were threatening to take away a right from your entire state? That’s when you call on the Attorney General. And the Attorneys General of California, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington all spoke up this week to defend their states—and public health—from a bad proposal.
State Action on Chemicals: Don't Bench Your Best Players
March 18, 2015
Proposed chemical policy "reform" shuts state governments out of the process. But when you’re up against a really strong opponent, it just doesn’t make sense to keep your best players on the bench.
Federal reform bill: Don’t call it safety.
March 10, 2015
Call it a gift to the chemical industry. Call it an insult to state health and environmental authorities. But don’t make the mistake of calling it a “chemical safety” bill.
Toxics Policies Prediction for 2015
February 09, 2015
Brace yourselves: Safer States predicts that if you are in one of the 28 states stepping up to propose chemical policy in 2015, you can expect some high-stakes visitors in your state capitol.
Doing the right thing on flame retardants
January 28, 2015
There’s good news on the cover of a January 2015 Sunday Chicago Tribune. A health hazard hidden in most of our homes may be on its way out. What will it take to end the use of toxic flame retardants in furniture once and for all?