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Wednesday was a big day. For the first time this year, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee discussed what it will take to pass strong laws on toxic chemicals. So, why was this Congressional hearing such a big deal?

In May, Senator Vitter and the late Senator Lautenberg introduced a bi-partisan bill to reform our federal law on toxic chemicals. The bill as drafted, has serious flaws, but provided a rare political breakthrough against deep partisan gridlock. Today's hearing was the first discussion on a path forward since the compromise bill was introduced.

What a day! Today was a marathon, six hour long hearing in the Senate on a path forward on toxic chemicals. 

We hosted a twitter chat which was full of rich discussion, questions and experts from across the country.

You can see highlights from the first part of the twitter chat here.

This morning was a whirlwind of fun on Twitter! During the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on toxic chemicals, we led a twitter chat highlighting some of the key points made throughout the hearing and answered questions. 

I was inspired to see how many people took time out of their busy day to tune in to the hearing and join our online conversation. We had several experts tweeting including our coalition partners at the Breast Cancer Fund, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, League of Conservation Voters and more. 

To add to the excitement actors Jennifer Beals and Elizabeth Berkley joined the conversation as well.

Have you seen that SC Johnson commercial that’s on 24/7? The one about how they’re a family company committed to “honesty” and “transparency,” and that’s why they disclose all ingredients right down to fragrance? (Except that they don’t actually tell you which fragrance ingredients are in products...)

We spoofed it.

Tackling part of the obesity epidemic through better chemical regulation We are hearing a lot about obesity these days. More people are obese than ever—one-third of American children and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. The American Medical Association has declared that obesity is now a disease. While some disagree with the designation of […]

“Out of the hottest fire comes the strongest steel.” Chinese Proverb The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest independent asbestos victims’ organization in the U.S., is pleased to join other NGOs in the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Family coalition’s mission to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the principal federal law governing the use […]

Find Out Which Brands are Leading on PFCs (Photo credit: Kim Howell Photography) About fifteen years ago, I remember marveling at a pair of khakis being sold at Old Navy as “stain and water resistant.” How cool, I thought, I can be impervious to rain and pizza sauce forever! I think I bought three pair […]

After months of delay, today the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Gina McCarthy to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by a vote of 59 to 40.

So what happens when powerful women (and men), who also happen to be actors, get involved in the issue of safer chemicals? Twitter responds.

It’s no secret that Congress is having a hard time accomplishing things recently. Budgets. Nominees. Funding the government. If you can name it, it's probably not getting done. But here's a thing this Congress can get done...