Yesterday, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed the first major bill to reach his desk as a response to the 2016 discovery of the toxic chemical PFOA in drinking water in Bennington County and elsewhere around Vermont. The bill, S.103, was aimed primarily at protecting children from toxic chemicals in their toys, clothing, utensils and other products. …
Gov. Scott vetoes S.103, siding with industry over Vermont’s children Read More »
It’s Town Meeting Week, which means that civic energy is buzzing throughout Vermont. In communities all across the state, Vermonters are coming together to cast their votes, discuss important issues with neighbors and meet with local legislators as part of this longstanding democratic tradition. Vermont has a long history of vibrant civic culture and rigorous …
FAQs For the current status of H.196, read more here. 1. What is Family and Medical Leave Insurance? Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FaMLI) is an insurance program that allows employees to take longer-term paid leave to bond with or care for a new child, an ill or injured family member, or to recover …
Since the start of the 2017 legislative session, VPIRG members and supporters have been more active than ever: signing petitions, calling the State House, sending messages to and meeting with legislators on a wide range of public interest issues. VPIRG has been doing all that we can to fight back against federal attacks on the …
A new study by the Environmental Working Group shows that chemicals closely related to PFOA, the toxic chemical that contaminated water in Bennington, are still used in some food wrappers. Since PFOA was banned from food contact substances, industry has shifted to coat food wrappers with similar chemicals with slightly different chemical structures, which are intended to …
After PFOA was discovered in drinking water in Bennington County, VPIRG worked with members of the Legislature to pass Act 154, which helped address the contamination in the short-term and created a working group to evaluate how we regulate toxic chemicals and how we can better prevent similar situations from happening in the future. VPIRG’s Paul …
How Can We Better Protect Vermonters from Toxic Chemicals? Read More »
Advocates Identify Toys Containing Dangerous Chemicals Available in Vermont Some toys that have been recalled for lead or powerful magnets or other hazards can still be found in online stores, according to VPIRG’s 31st annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey of potentially hazardous toys found that consumers should be wary when shopping this holiday …
31st Annual Survey Finds Recalled Toys in Online Stores Read More »
On November 19th, nearly 200 Vermonters from all across the state gathered at Main Street Landing in Burlington to push for action to address global warming in the upcoming legislative session. The “Climate Solutions Summit,” – which VPIRG co-hosted with our coalition partners at Energy Independent Vermont – included a variety of panels and workshops …
Every year the top retailers in the US are assessed based on their disclosure of harmful toxic chemicals that are often used in their products. In a country where over 85,000 chemicals that are not fully tested are regularly used in everyday consumer products, disclosure and arming consumers with the right to know is the most powerful …
