That’s because a 25-foot-tall inflatable rubber ducky hovered above a concerned group of health professionals, parents, environmental advocates and legislative leaders who called on the state Senate to finalize the legislation.

The act, passed by the state House in May 2009, had been sitting in the Senate Health Policy committee for more than a year. It would require importers and large manufacturers who use chemicals known to be hazardous to children, such as cadmium and mercury, to publicly disclose which of these chemicals they use in children’s products sold in Michigan.

Parents and other consumers would have easy access to this information from the Michigan Department of Community Health. The bill does not restrict or regulate chemicals in any way, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Meghan Swain, from the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, is urging Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, to listen to the recommendations of physicians, nurses, and health professionals around the state and support the legislation.

More than fifty prominent health professionals have signed on to a letter addressed to George, stating their concerns about exposing children to dangerous chemicals found in many toys. The Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health released this letter to the Health Policy Committee members after the press event along with non-toxic rubber duckies.

Unfortunately, the real lame duck of the day was George, who told MNCEH that he has no intention of moving this bill forward.

UPDATE FROM THE CAPITOL: Children's Safe Products Act in 2011

December 8, 2010

After this press event in November, the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health organized a Lansing Lobby Day on December 2. The network drew in health professionals, environmentalists, concerned parents, teachers and faith based activists from across the state. We joined together in Lansing to lobby our senators to pass this bill and support the Children's Safe Product Act.

We knew we only had a few final days before the senate was out of session. We pulled together our greatest allies for one final push and made our voices heard loud across the capitol that day. The day was a great exercise in Lobbying 101--state your ask, keep it short, and tell a personal story. We pulled senators off the floor, met with senete staffers in their offices, and talked directly to many senators.

A true champion, Gilda Jacobs, offered her support by addressing the senate, and telling them all the important reasons for passing this common sense bill. But, yet again, the lame duck of the season would not be stopped. After Jacobs spoke, Senator Tom George addressed his fellow republican senators urging them not to support this bill on the basis of funding. These republican senators followed George's lead and had enough votes to overturn the bill.

Despite this set back, the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health will not be stopped. They are organized and motivated as ever to pass a strong bill that protects our children's health in 2011. They are re-strategizing and gaining momentum for the next legislative session. Rest assure, the 20-foot inflatable ducky will be back! And with it a new bill that protects our children's health in this new year.

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MI LCV Urges Passage of Children's Safe Product Act

Don’t be a Lame Duck, Pass the Children’s Safe Product Act

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