April 2nd, Governor Gregoire signed the Children’s Safe Products Act into law, making Washington the nation’s leader in keeping toxic chemicals out of toys. Despite massive pressure from the toy industry to veto the bill, Governor Gregoire responded to the thousands of parents and other concerned Washingtonians who asked her to sign the legislation.

Thank you to everyone for your letters, calls, and other actions, and for your financial support that made this victory possible.

House sponsor Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson advocated fiercely for the bill, passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. Senate sponsor Sen. Debbie Regala and Sen. Phil Rockefeller shepherded the legislation, winning a vote just in time to meet the statutory deadline for final passage.

Governor Gregoire did veto a section of the law setting deadlines for manufacturers to report on the toxic contents of their products, and set up a working group to determine how to implement the law. Because of these changes, we will be continuing to press hard to make sure passage of this law leads to full disclosure of the toxic contents of toys and other children’s products.

We at the Washington Toxics Coalition express our deep gratitude to our legislative supporters and our partners, especially the American Academy of Pediatrics, Washington Chapter, League of Women Voters, Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Physicans for Social Responsibility, Washington Environmental Council, People for Puget Sound, Breast Cancer Fund, WashPIRG, Earth Ministry, and Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, Moms Rising, Institute for Children's Environmental Health, Fuse.

Other legislators that made invaluable contributions include Rep. Zack Hudgins, Rep. Tom Campbell, Rep. Ross Hunter, Rep. Bob Sump, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Hans Dunshee, House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Sen. Jim Kastama , Sen. Jim Hargrove, and Sen. Dan Swecker.