Pushing Past The Chemical Lobby

SAFE CHEMICAL FACILITIES—Chemical industry lobbyists have thwarted strong bills at the federal level year after year—bills that would protect communities from chemical accidents.

Thanks in part to members, scientists, advocates and congressional champions, the past summer was a critical opportunity to loosen the chemical lobby’s stranglehold on Washington, D.C.

A strong measure moved forward that would improve safety and security at the nation’s 14,000 chemical facilities—a bill scheduled to come up for a vote as this newsletter goes to print.

Since Sept. 11, we’ve worked to make chemical facilities safer by switching from dangerous chemicals to less toxic alternatives. In 2002, we worked with then-Sen. Corzine (N.J.) to move a bill that addressed security at our nation’s chemical facilities.

Though the bill won unanimous approval in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the chemical lobby was able to use their clout to prevent an up or down vote in the Senate.

In 2006, Congress again got close to passing a bill that would tighten up security at plants and make the switch to safer alternatives. But the chemical lobby shut Democratic committee members out of a closed-door, last-minute meeting that replaced strong regulations with weak, temporary provisions.

New Opportunity
This year’s bill has already received strong support on Capitol Hill, with backing from Reps. Ed Markey (Mass.), Bennie Thompson (Miss.) and Sheila Jackson-Lee (Texas), among others.

To push past the chemical lobby’s power, we’ll need to see the same kind of groundswell of support as we have seen in the past. A victory would set the stage for more victories for our health and safety in the future.