National Mercury Thermometer Ban Bill Poised to Rise Out of U.S. Senate Committee Tomorrow

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National Mercury Thermometer Ban Bill Poised to Rise Out of

U.S. Senate Committee Tomorrow

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National Mercury Thermometer Ban Bill Poised to Rise Out of

U.S. Senate Committee Tomorrow

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Jun. 26 -/E-Wire/-- The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired by Senator James Jeffords (I-VT), is set to mark up S.351, a bill that would phase out sales of mercury thermometers, except by prescription, within 180 days after enactment and improve management of surplus mercury. The bill authorizes $20 million in funds for a grant program to states and other appropriate parties for collection of mercury thermometers and a thermometer exchange program. In addition, S.351 creates a Federal interagency task force to make recommendations regarding the proper management of surplus mercury. The bill also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to spend $1 million per year to manage surplus mercury. Presently, numerous U.S. cities and nine states--Maine, Oregon, Indiana, California, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Michigan--have already banned the sale of mercury fever thermometers. Also, 11 of the top 15 national retailers have stopped selling mercury thermometers. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has sponsored S.351, which has strong bi-partisian support from the following Senate cosponsors: Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), James Jeffords (I-VT), John Kerry (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Mercury Policy Project

Michael Bender, Mercury Policy Project, [REDACTED-PHONE],

[REDACTED-PHONE](c), Stacy Malkan, Health Care Without Harm, [REDACTED-PHONE], Pete Didisheim, Natural Resources Council of Maine, [REDACTED-PHONE] x213

http://www.mercurypolicy.org

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