Stop Trump-McConnell Dirty Energy Bill
Please sign on to this letter by Monday, July 10 at 9:00 am: http://bit.ly/
Tell the Senate: Block and resist Trump’s nomination of torture policy architect Steven Bradbury. Click here to sign the petition.
“During his time in the Bush administration, Steven Bradbury gave the legal thumbs-up to a harrowing list of torture methods – waterboarding, nudity, striking prisoners, exposure to extreme temperatures, dousing with cold water, sleep deprivatio
n for more than seven days, cramped conditions and using these tactics in combination. While the military has a longstanding prohibition on torture, Bradbury concluded its policies didn’t apply to the CIA. His decisions were later overturned, and the Department of Justice’s ethics office would later issue a report citing “serious concerns about some of his analysis.” Sign here today!
Consumer’s Union Encourages US to Make A Stand for What Is Right
“The Senate has postponed the vote on their healthcare bill that would eliminate coverage for 22 million Americans, cut Medicaid deeply, and raise out-of-pocket costs for us all.” But the bill isn’t dead yet.
Your Senators and Representatives are home this week, and we need to let them know what’s at stake for their constituents. We want healthcare reform that expands coverage and lowers out-of-pocket costs for consumers. There’s great power in consumers standing together for what’s right — we just need to use it. Find a meeting near you here and voice your opposition to this harmful healthcare bill!
Transition in Dry Cleaning to Clean Green
NY State DEC is currently considering the below changes to regulations that govern dry cleaning facilities, stating that the original state regulations which were put in place in 1997 are outdated. Public hearings were held last week, and now, our voice is needed to continue this momentum. To read the full fact sheet visit online here.
Also, a sample letter could possibly read:NYS DECAttn: Eric WadeDivision of Air Resources625 BroadwayAlbany, NY 12233-3250Dear DEC Division of Air Resources,I applaud your efforts to improve the regulation of dry cleaning chemicals in NY State. As a consumer, I agree with the need for notification at dry cleaners of what solvent is being used. It should be everyone’s right to know. I supported Suffolk County’s local law 1000- 2016 sponsored by Legislator Kara Hahn to provide such posting in visible locations at each dry cleaning establishment. This signage would also provide an easily understandable guide to any health risks associated with each solvent, via color coding. I recommend that state-required signage do the same or similar so consumers can easily evaluate their risks. I also supported Suffolk’s related bill No. 1236-2016 which prohibited the use of the word “organic” in the context of dry cleaning advertisements, because this can be confusing to consumers who may associate this word with the unrelated federal organic food labeling program. The state should provide information for the public about dry cleaning solvents on its website.I support the move to higher generation cleaning machines and moving away from the practice of transferring from washer to dryer, to minimize the escape of VOCs. Given that Perchloroethylene (perc), which can volatalize into air, has been categorized as a probably human carcinogen by multiple agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is very important that dry cleaners using Perc or any other hazardous solvent in a residential building building stop this use as soon as possible. This should also apply to dry cleaners co-loacted with other small businesses.Given the known risks associated with perc, which is also a water contaminant found in multiple Superfund sites here on Long Island, the State should consider the phaseout of this chemical as soon as possible. The State could also play a role in promoting the safer alternatives such as wet cleaning, CO2, or Greenearth, by offering grant assistance for conversion, which they have done in California. States should also encourage a shift away from plastic dry cleaning bags towards re-usable ones, and in the meantime educate consumers that the #4 thin film plastic bags are recyclable along with their grocery bags.Thank you for considering these comments.Sincerely,Your Name Here
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