They're Baaaack!!
Congress returns to DC
The second session of the 105th Congress opens January 27 with 59 House members signed on to the Barton bill.
The number of cosponsors for the Barton bill (HR 1711) is a few short of the 100 that it's author, Texas Republican Joe Barton, had asked for, but industry efforts continue to get keep the measure moving. Since Barton introduced the legislation in May, 1997, 58 representatives have joined him as cosponsors. Known formally as The Small Business remediation Act, the bill would tie standards for cleaning up drycleaning solvents in soil and groundwater to standards set by OSHA for exposure of cleaning plant workers to the same solvents.
Cleaners were urged by the bill's supporters to contact their representatives in their home districts during the congressional break that began in November. The results of those efforts won't be known until Congress resumes activity this month since representatives can't sign on as cosponsors of legislation while Congress is in recess. Barton has said that if he can get 100 of his colleagues to cosponsor the legislation he will be able to convince House leadership to hold hearings on the bill.
Mid-Atlantic cleaners donate
Fund-raising efforts for the bill got a boost in early January when the Mid-Atlantic Cleaners and Launderers Association announced it will donate $10,000 to the Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America, which was organized last fall to raise money to defray expenses involved in keeping the legislation moving.
"We're putting our money where our mouth is by giving a very substantial donation in an effort to keep the Barton bill moving in Congress," said Barbara Harvey, president of MACLA.
"We're pretty much assured that without at least a reasonable national standard to peg scientific legislative and regulatory efforts to, Mid-Atlantic members are going to be slowly picked of, one by one, by becoming embroiled in long, drawn-out controversy and litigation. Without exception, the Barton bill simply has to have the total support of everyone in our industry. We urge every industry member to send a donation to the Drycleaners Action Fund so we can get this job done."
Other associations that have contributed to DCAFA include the Southwest Drycleaners Association ($10,000), the Nebraska Fabricare Association ($5,200) and the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning (more than $30,000 received out of $50,000 in member pledges). Merry Bering, executive director of the Michigan group, has volunteered to lead the DCAFA efforts. She said a number of smaller donations from individual cleaners had been received, too.
A group of employees of One Hour Martinizing in Omaha, Nebraska, also contributed to DCAFA. A $500 check, representing donations of $5 and $10 from the company's employees, was presented to Barney and Patty Deden at the company's annual Christmas dinner.
"Barney and Patty do so much for us, and we wanted to do something for them," said Dolores Morton, Martinizing's training director. We know how important the Barton bill is to our livelihood, so each sore manager took up a collection."
Barney Deden observed that if every employee of each drycleaning plant in the US gave a similar donation the industry could raise more than half a million dollars.
Upcoming activities
Both MACLA and the SDA have scheduled early March activities related to the Barton bill.
MACLA is planning a Face-to-Face effort in Washington on March 4 on conjunction with a Congressional Phone and Fax Day. Already, all members of the congressional delegations of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia have been contacted on behalf of MACLA for support of the Barton bill.
"This constant hammering away has had some effect," said Earl Knight, chairman of MACLA's Legislative, Environmental and Regulatory Committee.
Four of the 11 Virginia representatives have signed on as cosponsors. None of the other representatives from the MACLA territory have yet signed on.
SDA will host the bill's author at its "Big 98" trade show in Austin, Texas, March 5-8. Rep. Joe Barton will be among panelists who will discuss the legislation at a program on Saturday morning during the show.
Joining him on the panel will be Bill Seitz of the Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International, Bill Fisher of the International Fabricare Institute, Gary Baise of the Washington, DC, law firm of Baise & Miller, and Barney Deden, an Omaha, Nebraska drycleaner who has been a leading campaigner for the legislation. Brooksher Banks of Fashion Park Cleaners in Little Rock, Arkansas, will moderate the panel discussion.
Texas has rounded up the most cosponsors for the bill with a total of 16, including Barton, out of the Lone Star state's 40-member delegation signed on.
As Congress went into recess in November, there were 14 Democrats and 45 Republicans from 24 states signed on to the bill.
By last fall, about $300,000 had been expended to get the bill advanced in Congress. Most of that money came from a handful or sources, most notably the Martinizing Environmental Group and Comet Franchises. Those two organizations have been working through the Baise & Miller law firm in Washington for the past two years to get the Barton bill to where it is today.
The need for broader support from the industry was put bluntly in a letter written by Gary Baise to the principals of the two companies this fall. In the letter, Baise said:
"I do not believe your two groups should pay any more than you are already paying; however, other parties who are benefiting form your efforts need to step up to the plate nowŠ Some of the other major players in the industry surely can assist us in this effort to the same extent the two of you have. There are too many companies riding on the backs of your two groups. This must stop now in light of your record with our law firm."
The Details...
- Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America
- Summary of HR 1711
- Rep. Barton's "Dear Colleague" letter
- The Barton bill Scorecard
- The problem and solutions
- Barney Deden's letter to drycleaners
Be Your Own Lobbyist
- Sample Congressional Letter
- Talking Points
- How the Barton Bill Protects Cleaners from Excessive Clean-up Costs
- Environmental Problems Facing Drycleaners
- Possible Arguments Against The Bill
Information from FLARE to help cleaners get the message to Congress
