Big updates from Salem, plus today is National Healthy Schools Day
OEC joins government agencies, health advocates and others to commemorate National Healthy Schools Day. We've also got some great news to report about two bills we've been working on.
Today, April 27, the Oregon Environmental Council joins government agencies, health advocates and others to commemorate National Healthy Schools Day. We are turning concern about children’s health into constructive action to promote healthy school environments. We've also got some great news to report about two bills we've been working on.
We're one step closer this week to effective, common sense legislation for healthier Oregon schools. Senate Bill 637 and House Bill 2795 both aim to reduce pollutants to protect students and school employees.
We're happy to report that each bill passed out of House Committee last week; unanimously, and with 'do-pass' recommendations.
Senate Bill 637 would require K-12 schools to adopt smarter, safer pest management techniques, reducing the use of toxic chemicals. Integrated Pest Management has already worked to bring cost savings and effective pest control to some schools - and with SB 637, our children statewide could benefit from similar plans. See our fact sheet.
House
Bill 2795 would improve children's health by reducing exposure to diesel
emissions. The bill requires that all diesel school buses in Oregon be
retrofitted with filters by 2017 or replaced with cleaner buses by 2025.When
kids no longer breathe in diesel exhaust during their ride to school, they will
avoid asthma triggers and pollutants linked to cardiovascular disease and
cancer. It is also a positive step towards cutting regional haze and global
warming pollution. See our fact sheet.
The bills come none too soon for the 73,000 children
in Oregon who suffer from asthma, and for all children that deserve healthy,
clean places to learn and grow.
But we're just getting started. We still need to pass these bills on both the House and Senate sides to get them to the Governor! You'll be hearing from us very soon about ways you can plug in and tell your legislators that these bills are important parts of making Oregon's school environments safer places to learn.
