Safe Chemicals Act badly needed
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Editor,
As the former chairman of both the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, I know first-hand that Montanans need Congress to get off the dime and pass the Safe Chemicals Act.
The current law governing chemical use is badly broken and must be fixed. Too many of our people in Montana’s Indian Country and elsewhere are exposed to unacceptable and unnecessary levels of toxics that are making people sick. Chemicals like BPA in baby bottles, toxic flame retardants in crib mattresses, mercury in kids’ toys and formaldehyde in carpets really have no place on retailers’ shelves, yet they are widespread in these common products.
Most recently, I learned that trailer homes distributed to reservations around the country, including my own, allegedly contain levels of formaldehyde high enough to cause severe respiratory distress and other serious health impacts. These potentially toxic trailers were commissioned by FEMA for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom became ill after moving into their new homes. Now, typically, Montana’s Indian Nations are left to clean up the mess.
Clearly, the law that is supposed to keep our communities safe is not working. Thankfully, both of Montana’s Senators, Tester and Baucus, support these critical reforms. Congress must pass the Safe Chemicals Act now. How much longer do we have to wait?
James Steele Jr.
Arlee
