As part of its mission to prevent environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) has requested funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for its sister organization, Silent Spring Institute. The funding will be used to study exposure to toxic chemicals in drinking water and homes throughout Massachusetts.
On Wednesday, October 4th advocates from MBCC and citizens throughout the Commonwealth of MA met with state legislators and their staff to request funding for comprehensive water quality research.
With the requested state funding, Silent Spring Institute researchers would be able to:
- Test for health effects of highly fluorinated chemicals
- Test for emerging contaminants in private wells
- Evaluate enhanced removal of emerging contaminants from household wastewater
- Develop online water quality information tools for residents
MBCC is urging Massachusetts citizens to:
First, contact Senator Anne M. Gobi (anne.gobi@masenate.gov, 617-722-1540) and Representative Smitty Pignatelli (rep.smitty@masshouse.gov, 617-722-2210), Chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and ask them to support Bills H.2919 and S.455, An Act relative to drinking water and ground water research, that would establish a research trust fund for Silent Spring Institute’s water quality research, and to support funding for this research trust fund.
Second, ask their State Representative and State Senator to contact Senator Gobi and Representative Pignatelli to express their support for Bills H.2919 and S.455. Click these links for a list of legislators already supporting these bills.
Third, ask their State Senator to support a veto override of line item #4510-0600 to restore $25,000 to support Silent Spring Institute’s water quality research in the FY 2018 budget.
Fourth, request their State Representative and State Senator’s support in the amount of $647,500 for the first year of a three-year proposal for comprehensive water quality research to be conducted by Silent Spring Institute.
To find contact information for legislators, go to: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator