Eight PSR doctors, flying in to Washington from six states, will present the Obama Administration with a petition signed by 850 health professionals voicing their concern about the toxic dangers posed by unregulated coal ash disposal.

Urge President Obama to take Bold Leadership to Create a Safer World

A letter to the editor from PSR board member Dr. Alan Lockwood.

A bill introduced Thursday in the state House will protect Washington families from the harmful health effects of burning coal for electricity and help build the economy of the community now hosting the state’s lone coal-burning power plant.

The Environmental Health Policy Institute aims to host inspired conversation about toxic chemicals as well as cross-cutting issues in environmental health science and policy. WPSR President Steven Gilbert, PhD, DABT, is one of the first contributors!

On September 13th, over 20 health professionals attended a WPSR training concerning toxic chemicals. While a significant amount of time was dedicated to presenting information about the science of chemicals, the majority of the training was focused on how health professionals can get involved and use their voice to impact both patients and colleagues, as well as policymakers and future generations.

The long awaited climate bill seeks to address the grave threat to human health posed by climate change. Significant concerns still must be addressed to make this the solution we need.

Physicians for Social Responsibility supports the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010,” introduced last week by Senator Lautenberg and Congressmen Waxman and Rush. The long-awaited, landmark legislation would overhaul the way the federal government protects the public from toxic chemicals.

House and Senate Democrats yesterday unveiled landmark chemical policy reforms they are pushing to get passed this year, but that is no sure thing thanks to a dwindling legislative calendar and some key sticking points.

Next year will be crucial for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and all eyes will be on the United States and Russia to see if the two top atomic powers can reach a deal to reduce their arsenals.

We contend that healthcare reform should create a program that will ensure access to primary and preventive medical care to all inhabitants of the United States. Creation of a universal comprehensive primary and preventive care program in the United States that also addresses the major social determinants of health would be an investment that will pay dividends in improved health, increased productivity, and reduced cost for care as is enjoyed by developed nations except the United States.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, splitting largely along party lines, approved on Thursday the most ambitious energy and global warming legislation ever debated in Congress.

The New York Times editorializes on the need for chemical security reform. They hope legislation passes that includes safer technologies where feasible, whistleblower protection, a provision for civil suits, and no state preemption.

Testifying today before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Peter Wilk, Executive Director for PSR, called on the agency to move forward quickly with regulations to control the emissions of greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming and creating a serious public health threat.

President Obama came to office promising swift and comprehensive action to combat global climate change, and the topic remains a surefire applause line in his speeches here and abroad. Yet the administration has taken a cautious and rather passive role on the issue, proclaiming broad goals while remaining aloof from details of climate legislation now in Congress.

Despite minor changes accepted by the sponsors of the bill, the Lieberman-Warner global warming legislation, S. 2191, still is inadequate to address the wide-scale emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. The Environment and Public Works Committee will consider the bill in the coming weeks, and PSR calls on the committee to make improvements so that the bill will lead to the emission reductions called for by the scientific community.

On August 4, the House of Representatives passed a wide-ranging energy bill that marks a significant step forward toward reducing global warming and improving U.S. energy security. Passed by a vote of 241 to 172, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act sets new efficiency standards for appliances, lighting and buildings and offers incentives for the production of cellulosic ethanol and for the installation of E-85 ethanol gas pumps. The bill also provides tax breaks for the production and purchase of plug-in hybrid vehicles.