Important Steps You Can Take to Help

OTA’s Call to Reduce Pesticides is nearing VICTORY!

Senate Bill 637 passed the Senate by a wide margin – the cutting edge legislation now heads to the Oregon House. The House Committee on Education will hold a hearing on the bill Friday May 22.

Let’s work together to bring this to the Governor’s desk!

Please email these House Representatives by Friday 5/22 10:00 am expressing your support for requiring Integrated Pesticide Management in Oregon Schools. A sample letter you can cut and paste into your email is below.

Email these members of the House Committee on Education:

Sara Gelser, Chair rep.saragelser@state.or.us
Michael Dembrow, Vice-Chair rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us
Sherrie Sprenger, Vice-Chair rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.us
Chris Harker rep.chrisharker@state.or.us
John E Huffman rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us
Betty Komp rep.bettykomp@state.or.us
Ron Maurer rep.ronmaurer@state.or.us
Arnie Roblan rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us
Kim Thatcher rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us
Suzanne VanOrman rep.suzannevanorman@state.or.us

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Sample Letter

Dear Representative (name here),

I am writing in support of SB 637 which will require Integrated Pest Management programs in Oregon’s schools.

I urge you to pass this bill as a long overdue step to protect children’s health. Our schools play a critical role in a child’s ability to grow to his or her full mental and physical capacity. The medical literature on pesticides exposures is clear on the fact that pesticides harm neurological, reproductive and hormonal systems.

Children are the most vulnerable to these adverse effects because their bodies and their brains are still developing. Schools should be a safe place for children – and not be the place where any child is exposed to harmful chemicals. The active ingredient or the undisclosed ingredients in pesticides may be caustic, respiratory irritants, suspected carcinogens or endocrine disruptors to young developing bodies.

Adults must be cautious and protective for the sake of the children in our care.

Thank you for considering my strong support of SB 637 and for any role you may have for the successful passage of this legislation.

Sincerely,

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The Problem

Our schools routinely use pesticides in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, on playgrounds and athletic fields. The fact is, the vast majority of these pesticides and herbicides are not needed!

Pests and weeds can be controlled effectively using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. IPM is cheaper, safer and uses balanced methods to control pests. Please take a moment to tell you State Senator that you support SB 637, the bill to require Integrated Pest Management and reduce pesticides at all Oregon schools!

The Facts

Many pesticides in use today are known to cause cancer, genetic damage, asthma, birth defects, and more.

Because they are still developing and growing, children are highly vulnerable to pesticides, and the resulting health impacts can last a lifetime.
OHSU studies have found that pesticide exposure leads to cognition deficits, and memory and spatial problems; and that they alter brain development at lower doses than previous EPA guidelines.

Since 1990, the Oregon Department of Agriculture documented more than 75 possible pesticide poisonings involving schools and children. Children were evacuated, sent to the hospital or forced to stay indoors to protect themselves. Many more go undocumented. Thirteen states require Integrated Pest Management programs in public schools. Oregon law establishes no-spray buffer zones for grapes and salmon bearing streams. Yet, no such protection exists for our children!

The Solution

Oregon can protect children by requiring schools to reduce pesticide use and use safer alternatives using an IPM strategy. Oregonians can support SB 637!

What to Do Now

You can help by taking the following action:

1) Write to your State Representatives in the House and tell them to vote YES on Senate Bill 637 – IPM in Schools – when it comes to the House Floor.

Paste this into your email or read it over the phone:

Dear Representative NAME:

We urge you to support SB 637 which requires the use of Integrated Pest Management policies in Oregon’s Schools. The research shows that children are particularly vulnerable to harm from exposure to insecticides and herbicides.

Medical literature links pesticides to asthma, cancer, learning disabilities and birth defects. Data from our own state agencies shows that Oregon’s school children have been exposed many times over the past decade, even resulting in school evacuations and closures. Please vote yes on SB 637 when it comes to the Senate floor.

2) Contact your local legislator by email or phone. Urge them to support SB 637 reduce children’s exposures to pesticides and require Integrated Pest Management in Oregon Schools.

3) Please cc the OTA so that we can archive our contacts with legislators: jjcascade@oregontoxics.org

4) Resources:
List of State Senators: http://www.leg.state.or.us/senate/
List of Representatives: http://www.leg.state.or.us/house/
To find your local legislator: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

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