FEDERAL BILL TO BAN AMALGAM!

H.R. 4163: "To prohibit after 2006 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury intended for use in dental filling, and for other purposes."

If passed, the bill will

• Create an immediate ban on the use of mercury/silver amalgam dental fillings in children, pregnant females, and nursing mothers.
• Require health warnings to all patients receiving mercury amalgam fillings.
• Total ban on mercury amalgam fillings by 2007.

On 10 April 2002, Representative Diane Watson (D-CA) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced this bill, H.R. 4163, into the United States House of Representatives. This bill is of obvious importance to a great many people. Some key statements in this bill are:

"(3) Consumers may be deceived by the use of the term `silver' to describe a dental amalgam, which contains substantially more mercury than silver."

"(5) The mercury in a dental amalgam continuously emits mercury vapors."

"(8) According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the mercury from amalgam goes through the placenta of pregnant women and through the breast milk of lactating women, giving rise to health risks to an unborn child or a baby."

"(9) The Environmental Protection Agency considers removed amalgam filling and extracted teeth containing amalgam material to be hazardous waste."

"(11) Consumers and parents have a right to know, in advance, the risks of placing a product containing a substantial amount of mercury in their mouths or the mouths of their children." Now comes the political process. The fact that the bill was introduced does not mean that it will pass into law. The bill will be sent into a committee of the House of Representatives. If it passes Committee, it must then be voted for on the floor of the House. Then it is sent to the United States Senate, where it is placed into a Committee; then to the Senate floor for vote. At any step, it can be altered, defeated, or returned to the other branch of Congress.

This is where public opinion is critical! Members of Congress will respond to their voters, providing that the input is strong enough.

The more U. S. Representatives and Senators that sponsor or pledge support to this bill, the better the chance that it will pass into law. Every caring patient and health professional must now devote their energies to ensuring that every United States Representative and Senator is made aware that the wishes, and health, of their constituent voters is to support this bill. [See Bill on: http://Thomas.loc.gov/]

What YOU Can Do
Elected Officials Will Respond to the Voters!

• The "Government Offices - U.S." section of the "Blue Pages" of your telephone directory will provide information on your local U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators. o Contact these offices to voice your support of H.R. 4163. In general order, most effective are: 1) Personal visit to local staff; 2) letters; 3) Emails; 4) telephone calls; 5) petitions.
• Emphasize the most important issues: The protection of unborn babies and small children from exposure to the neurotoxic mercury. o Emphasize that you will pay attention to their vote on this issue.
• Tell all of your relatives, friends, neighbors, etc. about H.R. 4163 and request that they participate, and tell their friends.
• Call local radio talk shows, TV stations, and newspapers urging public support of the bill.
• Distribute notices to patients (for doctors), sympathetic health professionals and their patients, health food stores, health clubs and spas, environmental groups.

For voter input on the Georgia state legislation that follows, the same procedures can be followed. In step 1, simply look under "State Government - Legislature" for the State Senators and State Representatives in Georgia.

[For more information: IAOMT, P.O. Box 608531, Orlando, FL 32860-8531; T: 407-298-2450; F: 407-298-3075; email: mziff@iaomt.org]

Georgia Residents: Contact your legislators in support of HB 1715 "To amend Article I of Chapter 11 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding dentists and dental hygienists, so as to prohibit the use of mercury amalgam fillings by a dentist under certain circumstances; to provide for notice to patients; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes."

[On the web at www2.state.ga.us/Legis/2001]

Sponsors: Representatives B. Holmes, N. Orrock, K. Drenner, T. Brooks, B. Mobley.

Status: Introduced.

Key Language:

"(1-a) A dentist shall not place a mercury or mercury amalgam filling in any person 18 years of age or younger, in any female 45 years of age or younger, or in any woman of any age who is pregnant."

"(1-b) A dentist may not use mercury or mercury amalgam in a dental procedure unless, prior to such use, the dentist, in a manner that, in the dentist's professional judgment, will be understood by the patient, informs the patient of the following: (1) The intended use of mercury or mercury amalgam."

"(1-c) Every dentist shall post in the public area of such dentist's office a warning concerning the dangers of exposure to mercury posed by mercury amalgam fillings. The required minimum information to be posted shall be determined by rule or regulation adopted by the board."