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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax |
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax |  |
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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Wilson Announces Hearing on ‘Scooby’s Bill’ |
May 16, 2006 |
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Committee to Take Up Wilson-Cosponsored Bill to Improve Safety of Antifreeze
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced a congressional hearing has been scheduled, following her request, on Tuesday, May 23 at 10 a.m. in Room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building, to examine preventing accidental poisonings from antifreeze.
Wilson has cosponsored the Antifreeze Bittering Act of 2005 (H.R. 2567) to improve the safety of antifreeze by adding a bitter-tasting ingredient. Antifreeze, which has a sweet taste and bright color, is ingested by an estimated 1,400 children and 10,000 pets annually. It results in illness and is often fatal to pets.
Rep. Paul Gillmor, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Waste Committee, of which Wilson is a member, followed up on a commitment to Wilson by scheduling this hearing – the next step in producing a federal law to improve the safety of antifreeze. Wilson had written a letter to Chairman Gillmor on Jan. 31, 2006, asking for a hearing.
Dr. Melinda Eyrich, a veterinarian from Albuquerque, will testify at the hearing.
“We can keep our kids and pets safe,” says Wilson. “Support is growing. It’s important to have this national safety standard in place.”
Wilson’s effort at the national level mirrors existing law in New Mexico, and would provide a nationwide standard for interstate commerce. The legislation has earned broad support from pediatricians, animal rights groups, and even the industry that will be responsible for complying with the federal legislation once it’s enacted.
The legislation would establish a national standard for adding denatonium benzoate to antifreeze sold in quantities of 55 gallons or less. New Mexico, Oregon, and California already have state laws with similar requirements while many other states are considering laws with varying standards. Wilson says a clear national standard is necessary in this case.
Support for this effort:
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Veterinary Medical Association have endorsed this legislation.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in 2004 urging Congress to “help cities protect children and animals” by passing a bill to require the addition of DB to antifreeze.
The Consumer Specialty Products Association, which represents antifreeze manufacturers, actively supports federal legislation.
The Pet Food Institute, the Humane Society of the U.S., the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, and the American Humane Association endorse H.R. 2567.
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