Reps. Gattine & Hilliard to Speak on Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Safe Drinking Water for Maine Families
June 16, 2015 |
AUGUSTA – Representative Drew Gattine, D-‐Westbrook and Representative Gary L. Hilliard, R-‐Belgrade, will be available along with other concerned Maine citizens (details below) on Tuesday April 21, 2015 at 11 am at the Maine State Capital Welcome Center, Augusta, ME 04330, to discuss a new bipartisan bill that addresses the high level of naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic found in private wells that Mainers rely on as drinking water.
PLANNING ADVISORY FOR APRIL 21, 2015
FROM: PREVENT HARM
CONTACT: Izzy Forman Izzy Forman Communications
207.797.5707; izzy@izzyforman.com
Reps. Gattine & Hilliard to Speak on Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Safe Drinking Water for Maine Families
All Maine Families Must have Access to Safe Drinking Water
AUGUSTA – Representative Drew Gattine, D-‐Westbrook and Representative Gary L. Hilliard, R-‐Belgrade, will be available along with other concerned Maine citizens (details below) on Tuesday April 21, 2015 at 11 am at the Maine State Capital Welcome Center, Augusta, ME 04330, to discuss a new bipartisan bill that addresses the high level of naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic found in private wells that Mainers rely on as drinking water.
The US Geological Survey has found that as many as 150,000 Maine households could be drinking water with dangerously high levels of arsenic – in several towns, as many as 30% of private residential wells are contaminated. Arsenic is found in Maine’s bedrock and is a carcinogen. Chronic exposure to lower doses of arsenic were observed in Maine to cause significant lowering in IQ score among Maine school children, and exposure to arsenic in drinking water during pregnancy was linked to premature birth, lowered birth weight, and infant respiratory problems among women in New Hampshire. Yet less than half of residents with private wells are testing their wells for arsenic and other toxic chemicals.
The bill, LD 1162, An Act to Ensure Safe Drinking Water for All Maine Families sponsored by Representative Gattine which will be heard before the Health and Human Services Committee later that day, would address the issue of unsafe drinking water in several ways. The bill would establish a Safe Drinking Water fund for outreach and education to community members so that more Mainers know to test, and would assist low-‐income Mainers in purchasing treatment for contaminated well water. The attached fact sheet includes further detail on the policy proposal.
The event will include remarks from a Maine resident who found high levels of arsenic in her water, a retired special education teacher with concerns about the role that arsenic plays in lowered IQ in school children, along with both Representatives Drew Gattine and Gary Hilliard, who will address their commitment to transcending partisanship to achieve real solutions and to move forward this important bill in the interest of public health. Bill cosponsors may also attend and will be available for interviews.
The event is hosted by Prevent Harm, a public health organization that works to protect Maine Families from toxic chemicals and will be followed by a public hearing at 1PM ET
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21 — 11:00 AM ET
WHERE: Maine State Capital Welcome Center, Augusta, ME 04330
WHO: Representative Drew Gattine (D) Westbrook, Representative Hilliard (R) Belgrade, Susan Gilpin, Maine resident with contaminated well water (Falmouth), Regina Creeley, Ret. Special Ed. Teacher (Hudson), Emma Halas-‐O’Connor, Prevent Harm.
The following bill co-‐sponsors may be available for comment depending on session schedule: Senator Chris Johnson D – Lincoln, Senator Anne Haskell D – Cumberland, Representative Burstein D – Lincolnville, Representative Malaby R – Hancock, Representative Marean R – Hollis, Representative Vachon R -‐ Scarborough
For more information please contact Izzy Forman 207.797.5707 or izzy@izzyforman.com
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