Washington, D.C. – Ken Cook, the president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group, says that EWG’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment from toxic pollution will not waver, “no matter who is in charge or what happens in Washington.”
Cook issued the following statement in response to Tuesday’s election results:
A lot of EWG's supporters are wondering what last night's election results mean for issues about which you care so deeply.
The first place to look for answers is what politicians vowed to do if elected.
One candidate who won a U.S. Senate seat last night spent the campaign vowing to abolish the federal Environmental Protection Agency. A senior member of the expanded caucus she'll be joining has bragged about "keeping our boot on the neck of the EPA."
Judging by these and other campaign promises we’ve heard, we expect frontal attacks on clean air, clean water, and pesticide safeguards. These attacks represent the "return on investment" sought by polluters who spent heavily this election. We'll face a very strong push to enact toxic chemical law "reform" that has been written by the toxic chemical industry itself. We'll see Big Food pushing legislation that would prohibit states from following the lead of Vermont, Connecticut and Maine to give their citizens the right to know if their food contains genetically engineered ingredients.
You can count on EWG to stand up, strong and early, to any and all attempts to undermine laws and regulations on which you rely to protect the health of your family, especially the health of your children and the environment they'll inherit.
EWG will continue to empower you to live a healthier life in a healthier environment through practical steps you can take every day, no matter who is in charge or what happens in Washington.
But we will never waver in our resolve to hold the government and businesses accountable for protecting our health and environment. You can count on us. We know we can count on you.
