Cleaners called to the Capitol

MACLA organizes March for Barton bill

Cleaners will gather in Washington on Oct. 1 for a March on Capitol Hill organized by the Mid-Atlantic Cleaners and Launderers Association.

Dave Norford, executive director of MACLA, said response from cleaners and trade associations showing interest in the rally has been good since it was announced last month. He emphasized that participation is open to all industry supporters of the Barton bill, irrespective of association membership.

Going in to September, 88 members of Congress were sponsoring the legislation that was introduced last year by Texas Republican Joe Barton. Barton has said that if the industry can help round up 100 cosponsors he will be able to convince House leadership that the bill has enough support to move ahead with hearings. His bill would establish cleanup standards for drycleaning solvents in soil and groundwater at one-tenth the level that OSHA allows for workplace exposure to the same solvents.

While MACLA is underwriting the cost of the Oct. 1 event, Norford said it is important that those who plan to attend make appointments in advance to meet with representatives. Sept. 20 is the cut-off date for participants to inform MACLA of their plans. This will help the association organize the day's activities for optimum impact and allow them to ensure that proper materials are ready for the participants to take to Capitol Hill.

Cleaners who plan to attend should call MACLA (800) 235-8360, by the cut-off date. There is no fee to register. However, Norford emphasized, anyone who just shows up on the day of the March will be less useful and effective for the overall effort.

Norford said he hopes to target those representatives who have expressed interest and/or support for the bill but who have not yet signed on as cosponsors. Congress has set a tentative adjournment date of Oct. 9, so there is likely to be a last-minute flurry of legislative activity in the Capitol during the first week of the month. That could provide an opening for Rep. Barton to advance his legislation, provided enough support has been demonstrated.

If there is no action on the bill this year, Barton has promised to round up the supporters and reintroduce the bill early in the next Congress which convenes in January.

Norford also hopes that the march will demonstrate nationwide support for the bill. By mid-August, he said several industry trade associations had advised him that they plan to send representatives to the help the cause. This will spread the effect beyond the MACLA's membership area of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

While the main event will consist of visiting representatives and legislative aides on Thursday, Oct. 1, MACLA will host a Wednesday evening reception for participants who arrive the day before. The reception will be at the headquarters hotel, which is the Hyatt Regency, located at the foot of Capitol Hill near Union Station.

(For hotel accommodations, contact the Hyatt at (202) 737-1234 and identify yourself as part of the MACLA group.)

Thursday will get underway with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency followed by a briefing session and distribution of materials. Speaking at the briefing will be Gary Baise and Mary Scalco of the International Fabricare Institute.

After the briefing session, participants will head for the congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Appointments should be scheduled between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 1. Groups will be formed to go to each appointment.

That evening there will be an informal gathering back at the headquarters hotel to review the day's events.

While MACLA will underwrite meeting room expenses, coordinate professional assistance and individualize materials for distribution as requested, the individual participants are responsible for making appointments with their representative or the legislative assistant in charge of environmental matters.

This will be the second major effort organized this year by MACLA in support of the Barton bill. Last spring the association put together a phone and fax day and visited congressional offices. That effort added several new cosponsors to the Barton bill list.

"We are just so close to having the 100 cosponsors Congressman Joe Barton says he needs to make this thing happen that we simply cannot leave any stone unturned to get them," said Earl Knight, MACLA's legislative chairman.

"Gary Baise and Congressman Barton have both indicated that there are still a number of options open for passage during the waning days of this session of Congress."

The Details...

• Text of the Barton Bill
• Summary of HR 1711
• Dry Cleaners Action Fund of America
• Rep. Barton's "Dear Colleague" letter
• The Barton bill Scorecard
• Barney Deden's letter to drycleaners

Information from FLARE to help cleaners get the message to Congress

• 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

Contacting Your Representative

• Step-by-step guide to congressional contact
• Congressional Directory
• Locate Your Representative
• Members of Key Committees dealing with the Barton bill