Just this month, a man drove barreling through the gates of a chemical plant in Texas, shouting, “We’re all gonna die!” before slamming his SUV into an 18-wheeler. On the very same day, one worker was killed and another injured by an explosion at a chemical plant in New York.
Chemical plants across the country present a real danger to nearby communities. In fact, millions of Americans are at risk. If an accident or a terrorist attack happens at any one of 484 chemical plants, 100,000 or more people would be at risk of injury or death.
Despite these clear and present dangers, Congress has so far failed to protect us. But right now, there’s a window of opportunity to pass legislation before the end of the year to make water treatment plants safer. The Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and more than 100 non-profits, including major unions, fire fighters, environmental and public health groups are all in favor of this legislation. But Congress needs to hear from YOU.
Safer alternatives are already being used in hundreds of plants. It’s up to all of us to convince Congress to protect us. Please, take just a second to tell your friends. The time you take could help save lives.
