Maine Governor Ceremonially Signs Bill to Reduce Toxins

May 21, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today celebrated the signing of LD 2048, "An Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products.” The Governor commended House Majority Leader Representative Hannah Pingree for her continued leadership in the area consumer product safety.

“Thanks to the partnership developed between the Administration, our Legislative leadership and dedicated advocates, Maine is a leader in protecting our children from harmful chemicals,” said Governor Baldacci.

The Governor said that encouraging the use of safer chemicals that provide increased protection to human health and the environment supports innovation and economic opportunity.

“The development of bio-based products from Maine agricultural and forest resources offers the potential for economic growth and job expansion,” said the Governor. “Maine can and should lead the way in developing these kinds of technologies.”

Representative Pingree’s bill requires the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to maintain a list of the most worrying chemicals that our children come into contact with on a daily basis. The goal is to eventually replace these chemicals with safer alternatives when they are proven to be available.

“I want to thank Governor Baldacci and the dozens of health, safety and environmental advocates, the DEP, the CDC and hundreds of concerned Maine parents from across the State who came together in support of this critical mission,” said Representative Pingree. “The chemical industry hired an army of lobbyists to work against this bill, but the fact that it passed with near-unanimous support shows that in Maine, common sense can still prevail. This is incredibly important for our children, our state and our country. I'm proud that Maine has again taken the lead in protecting kids from toxic chemicals, and I hope that our congressional delegation has taken notice.”

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and by a near-unanimous vote in the House. It was signed by the Governor on April 17.

Source: Maine Governor

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