Urgent Action Needed. On Tuesday, April 19, safe cosmetics legislation (AB 908)

Please circulate widely.

Hello! On Tuesday, April 19, safe cosmetics legislation (AB 908) in Sacramento will be up for its first and most difficult vote (which will be in the Assembly Health Committee). AB 908 phases out two types of synthetic chemicals (phthalates), from personal care products, that have been linked to birth defects and cancer. Workers and consumers have been exposed for far too long to these hazards, and enough is enough. Please take a minute to write or phone Assemblywoman Cohn on this important issue.

Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn is one of the legislators most key to this committee vote on AB 908 tomorrow. It could make a big difference for her to receive more calls and faxed notes today or by early tomorrow! Contact information for Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn is PH: 916-319-2024, FAX: 916-319-2124; her staff people handling this are Chris Forsyth or Jan Carter.

Below is a sample letter you should feel free to personalize and a phone message you can use in calling Assemblywoman Cohn’s office:

Suggested phone message (in speaking to receptionist): "Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I am [mention your community leadership and/or constituent role]. I'm calling to register my support for Assembly Bill 908, which will be voted on by the Health Committee April 19. This is an important measure that will better assure the safety of products for worker and consumer health."

Sample letter:

The Honorable Rebecca Cohn
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0024

RE: Support -- AB 908

Dear Assemblywoman Cohn:

I am a concerned citizen writing in support of AB 908, to improve the safety of personal care products. Removing chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects from products we apply to our skin is just common sense. Making sure that we know about hazards in beauty products should be a given. These are basic steps we can take to better prevent illness and disease. We have enough science to act on known hazards and should not delay. For the sake of me and my family, other consumers, and workers exposed to these chemicals daily, please lend strong support to this modest, yet important bill.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS (important so they know you are a constituent; or if you are not a constituent, please include something in the letter or your signature block that indicates your role as a community leader)


BRIEF BACKGROUND

The vast majority of chemicals used in industrial production have not been tested comprehensively for their health effects. They may contribute to disease not only when released as pollution, but also through their regular use in consumer products.

Some popular brands of shampoo, deodorant, face cream, and other everyday products contain chemicals that research has linked to cancer and birth defects. As has been shown in the European Union where many such ingredients are not allowed, it is possible to have personal care products without these harmful ingredients. This is a particularly important issue for babies because of exposure in utero, children and adolescents, and workers in salons. So this is a health, justice, and environmental issue. Current “safe cosmetics” legislation being voted in on Sacramento will require better ingredient disclosure (SB 484) and the phase-out of two types of phthalates, from personal care products, that have been linked to birth defects and cancer (AB 908). Many groups support this legislation, including the California Interfaith Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment, National Environmental Trust, Breast Cancer Fund, Breast Cancer Action, and, due primarily to worker health issues, United Food and Commercial Workers, Asian Health Services, and the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance.

A more detailed fact sheet about AB 908 is attached: “AB 908 (Chu): Safe Cosmetics, Worker Health and Safety.”

For further information, feel free to contact Suellen Lowry, California Interfaith Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment, at 707-826-1948, suellenquaker [at] cox.net <mailto:suellenquaker [at] cox.net> , or Nick Guroff, 415-863-8934x109, nickguroff [at] earthlink.net <mailto:nickguroff [at] earthlink.net> . THANK YOU!