Dear Friend:

My thanks to all of you who have taken my calls and answered my questions on pending legislation.  It helps me to talk to the people who will be directly affected by the legislation that is passed here in Annapolis.

My third bill this year is HB1363 – County Board of Education – Procurement of Green Product Cleaning Supplies which was heard by the Ways and Means Committee.  This bill requires County Boards of Education to procure green cleaning supplies for use in schools.  These products must perform well and have positive environmental attributes, including:  biodegradability, low toxicity; low volatile organic compound content, reduced packaging; and low life cycle energy use.

My support for this issue has built over the past three years I have served on Ways and Means.  We have had several bills concerning the quality of air in schools and conditions in the temporary trailers that are being used at our schools.  This bill would address some of these concerns.

Research shows a clear link between poor indoor air quality, sick students and teachers, and poor academic and occupational performance.  Furthermore, children miss more than 14 million school days each year due to asthma exacerbated by poor indoor air quality, which disproportionately affects low-income and minority students.  Green cleaning products can help reduce the environmental hazards that negatively affect children’s growing, developing bodies.

Additionally, cleaning products can contain a number of harmful chemicals that hurt our environment.  The products are used; and the residual is often washed down the drain, into our sewage treatment plants and ultimately our waterways.  Furthermore, when a product is used, the container is thrown away and can add hazardous material to our landfills.  While cleaning supplies are not a primary source of pollution, they do add another stress to our already stressed ecosystem.  Without a doubt, preventing pollution in the first place is the most cost-effective means of protecting our environment.

Therefore, this bill seeks to address the types of chemicals used to clean our schools and also to improve the air quality within our schools.  Green products have been shown to be effective cleaners.  Numerous school systems have elected to go “green” and adopted a policy of purchasing green cleaning supplies.  Three states, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have enacted legislation requiring or encouraging school systems to use green cleaning supplies.

HB1363 takes a positive approach toward switching to “green” products that will help all of us, especially our children, and our environment.  With a favorable report from the Ways and Means Committee, the bill passed the House of Delegates with a vote of 134-1 and is now in the Senate for a hearing.

On a personal level, many of you know that my daughter, Mollie, has been expecting a child.  I am a grandfather for the second time!  A beautiful girl, Madeline, arrived on March 10, 2009 at 8 pm and weighed 7 pounds and was 19 inches long.  Life is very good – Bryce now has a new cousin!

If you have any questions about issues before the legislature, do not hesitate to contact my office at 301-858-3247 or send me an e-mail at peter.murphy@house.state.md.us.  If you want to get a snapshot of my day and the issues coming across my desk, please go to my website www.delegatepetermurphy.com and read my personal blog to learn more.