What do a bunch of moms, parents, advocates, and a 20 foot tall rubber ducky have in common?  All of them were outside of the annual chemicals industry convention in Baltimore last week, letting the industry know that “You Can’t Duck Real Reform!” And they weren’t the only ones speaking out for chemical reform:  Over the past month, MomsRising members across the country have sent more than 50,000 letters to Congress urging immediate reform to protect our kids from toxic chemicals!

Right now, legislation is finally being drafted in Congress to reform the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in order to make sure our toys and products are safe BEFORE they hit store shelves. We're on our way to real toxic chemical reform and to safer ways to raise our children. We're gaining MOMentum! Unfortunately, as this much-needed safer chemicals legislation is finally being drafted, the chemical industry lobbyists are also mobilizing -- and not necessarily with the best interests of our families and kids in mind.

We can keep this MOMentum going, but we need your help. Take a minute right now to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support the strongest possible version of toxics reform legislation. http://action.momsrising.org/go/LJacksonEPA/56?akid=1980.1600629.owDXm0&t=4

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 is supposed to give the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to regulate toxic chemicals, but it just does not work.

*American babies are now being born polluted with more than 300 industrial chemicals. This is a big problem because pregnant woman, developing fetuses, and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals.

*Under the current law, the EPA has been able to require testing on only about 200 of the 80,000 chemicals that have been on the market since 
the law passed in 1976.

*In the last 34 years, only 5 chemicals have had their use restricted by the EPA. In the last 18 years, no chemicals have been restricted.

And, keep in mind that all of the above is happening as rates of asthma, diabetes, childhood cancers, breast cancer, infertility and learning and developmental disabilities associated with harmful chemicals keeps increasing.

The EPA must publicly support a strong version of the reform bill that meets the needs of real families including immediate action on the worst chemicals in order to make sure real reform happens, and not "reform lite" which continues to put our kids at risk. Some chemicals are highly toxic, even at very low levels of exposure, and they've been linked to a wide range of serious human health problems, including infertility, early onset of puberty, learning disabilities, and certain cancers.[3] Our families are exposed to these chemicals everyday, just through touching products like furniture, electronics, paper packaging, and textiles.

The chemical reform legislation that we've been requesting is being drafted--and not a moment too soon.  Our nation's chemicals policy needs to be reformed right now (yesterday, in fact).
 Take a minute to support real reform today! http://action.momsrising.org/go/LJacksonEPA/56?akid=1980.1600629.owDXm0&t=6

And tell your friends and family! The more people who speak up for real chemical reform, the more likely we are to be able to counter the chemical industry lobbyist and make real change for safer products.

MomsRising is a founding member of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign. To learn more about this important issue, visit the campaign online: http://action.momsrising.org/go/57?akid=1980.1600629.owDXm0&t=10