:: Advocacy Project : Healthy People/THOMAS ::

GoGreen50

After reviewing the six environmental health themes on the HealthyPeople website, I have decided that I would like to focus on toxic substances and hazardous wastes. The objective that I have chosen is EH-12 : Increase recycling of municipal solid waste. The current baseline is 33.2 percent of municipal solid wast was recycled in 2008. The target for this objective is 36.5 percent, which is a ten percent improvement. According to a fact sheet by the EPA, "municipal solid waste (MSW)  includes those materials that historically have been handled in the municipal solid waste stream–those materials from municipal sources, sent to municipal landfills. MSW includes wastes such as product packaging, newspapers, office and classroom papers, bottles and cans, boxes, wood pallets, food scraps, grass clippings, clothing, furniture, appliances, automobile tires, consumer electronics, and batteries." I don't think we completely realize what is considered to be waste. We carelessly throw everything away without giving a second thought to how that particular item may affect our environment. 

The bill that I found using THOMAS is:

H.R.1628

Trash Reduction Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require retailers to pay a $0.05 excise tax on each disposable carryout bag provided to a consumer. Defines "disposable carryout bag" to mean a bag of any material, commonly plastic or kraft paper, which is provided to a consumer at the point of sale to carry or cover purchases, merchandise, or items. Exempts reusable bags and certain other bags used for specified purposes from such tax. Allows a refund of such tax for retailers who establish a disposable carryout bag recycling program.

This bill also establishes in the Treasury the Disposable carryout bag Trust Fund to hold tax revenues generated by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments from such Trust Fund for the disposable carryout bag recycling program and for the land and water conservation fund established by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

Sponsor: Representative James P. Moran [VA-8] (introduced 4/15/2011)

Co-sponsor: Representative Eleanor Norton 

Latest Major Action: 4/22/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.R. 1628 :: Trash Reduction Act of 2011 (I feel that the only way people will stop using plastic bags to haul their groceries and other supplies home from the stores is by making them pay a fee. This fee is so nominal when you think of how much it really affects our environment.

My Political Representative(s): Chip Cravaack

I must admit to being slightly peeved that this bill has been sitting out there for since April and LITTLE has been done with it. This is how slow our government works???????

:: Share 'N' Voice :: Beyond the Viewfinder

This flower was found in Campo de Fiori in Rome, Italy

From the magnificent sights to the aroma of the flowers and fallen leaves, from the harmonies that sound from high on the trees to the caress of the waves upon the shores, nature is awe-inspiring! It's beauty never ceases to amaze me.

In our hurried lives, we sometimes fail to look at the beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis.  It is there for all of us to witness, we just need to take the time to see nature's small miracles. I love going on "camera adventures" and seeing how many ways nature presents itself to me. Sometimes I capture something I feel is amazing. Yet, there are times when what I see in the viewfinder is beyond words and the picture cannot clearly express the true beauty that was seen. When I find something I want to take a photo of, I do not really care what I need to do to capture that perfect image. I'm the type of person who will lay on the ground, climb out on a small cliff, or any other awkward position to capture the perfect image. 

A little bug taking time to check out these beautiful flowers.

I had the opportunity to go to Italy last May. Talk about a camera adventure. I was often the one running to catch up with our group because I was taking photos of everything that inspired me. The whole trip put me on sensory overload, but Italy's beauty is nearly indescribable. While traveling across Italy, I wrote a blog post that talked about the beauty that could be seen outside our bus windows. "Who knew there were so many shades of green. The trees and shrubs that cover these hillsides are such a dark green,  dotted with the occasional shade of yellowish-green. The horizon is filled with one tree covered mountain after another.  Workers can be seen working in the fields, be it planting or making hay." No camera could capture that view well enough. It truly was a moment where you had to be there to witness the beauty.

It saddens me to think of these beautiful views are so easily affected by our actions against the environment.  People throw their cigarette butts everywhere. We don't recycle nearly enough and those items not only fill our landfills, but also litter our daily environment. Our marine life is dealing with oil spills, polluted water, a diminishing water supply, exotic species that are destroying our fish, and many more issues. Our waterways are also being polluted by the farmers who over irrigate their fields where they used fertilizers and pesticides. If we don't start making some serious changes we will not be able to enjoy these magnificent sights.

The two flowers pictures that are in this post were taken in Italy, as were the following five photos. Picture locations include the Forum, Villa Borghese, Banfi Winery, along the Tiber River and finally the fire hydrant picture was taken in Venice. If you look carefully, on the sidewalk next to the hydrant is a nasty cigarette butt. Those things pollute our landscapes. The other photos were taken in the Grand Marias area. I love to not only walk along the shore, but also get lost in the woods where you never know what you'll find.

Please enjoy the beauty that I found in my viewfinder. 

:: Advocacy Project :: My Political Representatives ::

For our first advocacy project, we have been asked to identify the following individuals :: the President, our congresspeople, the governor of our state, and the state legislators who represent my district. Below I will be providing their names, addresses, political affiliation and a link to their website. 

Representative Murphy

Representative Mary Murphy (DFL)
I'm going to start off with my favorite state legislator. Mary Murphy is the DFL House Representative for District 06B. Not only is Representative Murphy a friend to all, but I am fortunate enough to call her one of my personal friends. I have sat in Mary's office many times during annual trips to the State Capital for Firefighter Day at the Capital. She is one of the most sincere state representatives I know. She truly cares for her constituents and listens to their views. She is willing to dig to the bottom of an issue to find a solution, even if it means compromising. She is currently serving her 18th term in office.

343 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651.296.2676 or 800.890.5428

Email :: Website
 

Senator Bakk

Senator Thomas M. Bakk (DFL)
Whereas I adore Representative Murphy, I am not a fan of Senator Bakk. Never once in my visits on Firefighter Day at the Capital did he deem it important to meet with us, the fire service leaders of the 06 District. He always gives off the impression that he is above his constituents and doesn't have the time to listen to their concerns. He was first elected to the Senate in 2002. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as the House Representative for the 6A District  Currently, Senator Bakk serves as the Minority Leader, as well as serves on Rules and Administration and Taxes Committees. 

147 State Office Building

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

  St. Paul, MN 55155

651.296.8881

Email :: Website

Governor Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton (DFL)
Governor Mark Dayton is the state's 40th governor He took his oath of office on January 3, 2011. He has served Minnesotans for the past 34 years in varying capacities. Governor Dayton has been the Commissioner of the Minnesota Departments of Economic Development and of Energy and Economic Development, the Minnesota State Auditor, and has also served as a U.S Senator. He has worked throughout our state to help businesses locate or expand and create jobs, to improve local government services, to better fund our public schools, to support our servicemen and women, to help Minnesotans get the health care they need and deserve.

130 State Capitol

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

St. Paul,  MN  55155

651.201.3400

Blog :: Email :: Website

Congressman Cravaack

Congressman Chip Cravaack (R)
Congressman Cravaack represents the 8th District here in Minnesota. He was elected to office in January of 2011. Congressman Cravaack currently sits on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Science, Technology and Space Committee.

DC Office: 508 Cannon HOB :: Washington, DC 20515

202.225.6211

Duluth Office : Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse
515 West First Street - Room 235 :: Duluth, MN 55802
218.740.7803

Email :: Website

Senator Klobuhar

Senator Amy Klobuhar (DFL)
The first elected female senator from Minnesota, Senator Klobuhar took office in 2006. She replaced then Senator Dayton, who opted to not seek re-election. According to her website, Senator Klobuhar took the lead to pass the most significant consumer product safety legislation in a generation, keeping foreign toxic products off our shores and out of our stores, and helped push through a new law to protect children from unsafe swimming pools. She also authored a bipartisan law to establish national health standards for formaldehyde in composite wood products, protecting public health and ensuring an even playing field between domestic wood products and foreign imports. She serves on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee. One of the issues that Senator Klobuhar focuses on is homegrown energy, environment and natural resources.  She has a list of her priorities when it comes to this issue listed on her webpage.I feel she has some great priorities when it comes to our environmental health. Check it out.

DC Office: 302 Hart Senate Office Building :: Washington, DC 20510
202.224.3244

Northeast Minnesota Office: Olcott Plaza, Room 105 - 820 9th Street North - Virginia, MN 55792

218.741.9690

Email :: Website

Senator Franken

Senator Al Franken (DFL)
Once a comedian on Saturday Night Live, Senator Franken assumed office in July of 2009 after a debated election battle with former Senator Norm Coleman.  He currently serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Indian Affairs Committee, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  Senator Franken's ideas on energy and environmental issues is not as extensive as Senator Klobuhar's, but he does focus on creating policies to help Minnesota's production of wind power, biomass and biofuels. 

DC Office: 309 Hart Senate Office Building :: Washington, DC 20510

202.224-5641

Duluth Office: 515 W 1st St - Suite 104 :: Duluth, MN 55802

218.722.2390

Email :: Website

President Barack Obama (Democrat)

President Obama was elected in November of 2008. He was sworn in on January 20, 2009. He is the 44th President of the United States and is also the first African-American President. Our President is working to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackling climate change and is interested in finding a solid way to protect our environment. Check out his views on these issues here.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments: 202.456.1111
Switchboard: 202.456.1414

Blog :: Email :: Website