Policy

AAIDD developed a policy teleconference series in 2010 to complement its  Research and Science teleconference series. The EHI Policy teleconference series explores the policy ramifications of scientific advances in neurodevelopmental  sciences. Presenters discussed the legislative developments at the state and federal levels while collaborating with other organizations to develop  policy.

 

AAIDD Environmental Health Initiative Policy Webinar Series – 2010
 

Chemicals and Health: The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Wednesday, April 21 at 2:00 PM

Charlotte Brody, Director of Chemicals and Green Chemistry of the BlueGreen Alliance presented the critical details of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Health Report, The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act. Charlotte edited and wrote much of The Health Report, which become the important in SCHF’s efforts to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act.

 

 

Senate and House TSCA Reform Bills: What do they say? Where are they going?

Tuesday, June 2 at 2:00 PM

Senator Lautenberg and Representatives Waxman and Rush introduced S3209 and HR 5820 respectively to reform U.S. chemical policy and overhaul the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has failed to regulate chemicals in consumer products – even those that have known links to cancer, learning disabilities, asthma, reproductive disorders, and other serious health problems.  Lindsay Dahl, Deputy Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, described the bills, the differences between them and the health and policy implications if they are enacted.

 

 

Is the “Solution” of Oil Dispersants In the Gulf Making the Health and Environmental Situation Worse?

Wednesday July 28 at 3:00 PM 

Andy Igrejas, the National Campaign Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, Gina Solomon, MD, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and Richard Denison, PhD, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) discussed the health risks and possible environmental consequences of BP’s decision to treat the oil spill with dispersants made up of unknown chemicals.  They discussed what we know about dispersants and what we don’t – and how EPA regulations keep us from knowing more, highlighted the health risks and potential environmental issues and a bill introduced the night before to provide guidance in the use of dispersants.

 NPR Story, Living On Earth
 

What are People Saying about Chemicals and Health?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 1:00PM 

Mark Mellman of the Mellman Group presented a briefing on a recent public opinion poll.  The poll surveyed 825 voters in 75 swing Congressional districts and found results favorable chemical policy reform, including:

§        73% of respondents identified the threat of toxic chemicals in every day life as “very” or “somewhat serious.”

§        74% favored stricter regulations.

§        84% favored “tightening controls,” with fifty percent of that figure calling it “very important.”

 

What can Environmentalists and Health Activists Learn from the Affordable?

Friday, August 19 at 11:00 AM 

Kim Musheno, Director of Legislative Affairs at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), was intimately involved in the progress of health care reform through Congress this spring.  In this webinar she explained to environmentalists, health policy experts, other policy "wonks" and the general public, what the implications of the Act are on the disability community and highlighted insurance market reforms and how those changes will impact people with disabilities   She also identified and analyzed funding opportunities for nonprofits and researchers to help develop promising practices in the area of health promotion and wellness and provided insights into opportunities in the Act to provide training to health and allied health care providers.