Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

1. OBJECTIVE
For my advocacy project, I have decided to focus on Occupational Health and Safety from Health People 2010.

Objective: Reduce the proportion of adults who have elevated blood lead concentrations.
Target Goal: Zero per 100,000 employed adults.
Baseline Goal: 12.1 per 100,000 employed adults aged 16 years and older had blood lead concentrations of 25 µg/dL or greater in 1998 (24 States).

2. PROGRESS, DISPARITIES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, EMERGING ISSUES
The Progress Quotient Chart shows that so far, 24% of the target goal has been reached with it continuing to move forward.

The progress updated showed that 24% of the target goal was met. This was through the monitoring and teaching of proper procedures by several occupational health organizations. I think this is a pretty solid step towards the goal as it is not going to happen right away and working with lead can be very risky.

*No disparities were listed for lead blood levels on the website

Some of the challenges in meeting this target are as follows:

• Insufficient knowledge of science
• Determining the true cause of some of the medical conditions
• Uneducated public of prevention standards
• Acceptance the presence of a preventable risk

Though these challenges can be frustrating, organizations such as NIOSH/HHS is currently working to meet them through several different efforts such as research, training, and other programs.

With the changing status of the economy brings new emerging issues into the workplace. This means that there is a generally older population remaining in the workplace as well as longer work shifts due to company downsizing. It has shown that extended work shifts can reduce mental awareness which can create a risk in the work environment. This also means that longer a single person is around lead, for instance, the more likely that person is to have higher blood levels of lead.

3. RELATED BILL: Taken from THOMAS
H.RES.375 Supporting the goals and ideals of Workers' Memorial Day in order to honor and remember the workers who have been killed or injured in the workplace.
Title: Supporting the goals and ideals of Workers' Memorial Day in order to honor and remember the workers who have been killed or injured in the workplace.
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 4/28/2009)
Cosponsors:

Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 4/22/2010	Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 4/13/2010
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 5/6/2009	Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 4/28/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 4/13/2010	Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 4/28/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 4/13/2010	Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 4/28/2009
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 4/13/2010	Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 4/13/2010
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 4/13/2010	Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 4/13/2010
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 4/13/2010	Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] - 1/26/2010
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 4/28/2009	Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 4/28/2009
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 4/28/2009	Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 4/28/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 4/22/2010	Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 4/28/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 4/28/2009	Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 4/28/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 1/26/2010	Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 4/28/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 4/28/2009	Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 4/13/2010
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 4/26/2010	Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 4/13/2010
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 4/28/2009	Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 5/6/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 4/22/2010	Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] - 4/13/2010
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 4/28/2009	Rep Titus, Dina [NV-3] - 4/22/2010
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 4/13/2010	Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 4/13/2010

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2010 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

Recommendation: Vote YES for H.RES.375 Supporting the goals and ideals of Workers' Memorial Day in order to honor and remember the workers who have been killed or injured in the workplace.

My Political Representative:
Representative Mary Hubler
(608) 266-2519