OT: Lobbyists at work - holding up lead reform

July 20, 2008

This from PennPirg - a product safety advocacy organization - part

of US Pirg

It was more than a year ago that we first began to see the reports

about the millions of toys recalled for toxic lead and other

hazards. The news was shocking, and we weren't alone in calling on

Congress to take swift action to protect our kids.

But more than a year later -- despite the outcry, despite the clear

need for reform -- Congress hasn't delivered a bill to make toys

safer.

And you won't believe what's holding it up now: ExxonMobil, the

world's richest oil company, is standing in the way. Why? The

company wants to kill a provision that would ban toxic phthalates

from plastic toys. ExxonMobil just happens to be one of the largest

manufacturers of that chemical.

Unbelievable.

Please sign our letter to the congressional leadership. Tell them to

stand up to ExxonMobil and deliver a toy safety bill that really

safety-bill?id4=ES

After 45 million children's products were pulled from store shelves

in 2007, I can hardly believe that we're still waiting for Congress

to act.

Earlier this year, both the House and Senate passed a version of a

bill to improve toy safety. But now, as the final bill is being

hammered out, ExxonMobil has joined forces with the toy industry and

the chemical industry in an all out attempt to weaken this bill.

And with precious little time left to pass a strong bill -- Congress

will recess in August -- ExxonMobil just might get its way. That is,

unless we can keep the pressure on Congress to deliver the strong

toy safety bill they've promised.

Help us make it happen. Please sign our letter to congressional

bill?id4=ES

Then, send this message to a few friends and ask them to take

action, too.

Let's make sure when it comes to toy safety, Congress sides with

America's children, not with Exxon Mobil.

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