CONTACT: Sam Villaneda, [email protected], (760) 269-9391

Tom Steel,[email protected],(530) 713-7783

Eaton Fire Residents United Sponsor Assemblymember Harabedian's Post-Fire Contamination Testing Bill

(SACRAMENTO, CA)- Today, Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena)welcomed Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU) as a sponsor for AB 1642: Wildfire Environmental Safety and Testing Act. This bill requires that, for wildfire survivors, any decisions to return home must be guided by public health, science, and engineering expertise rather than insurance guesswork. The smoke from fires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) presents a larger health risk when compared to remote area wildfire smoke.

"Today, I am proud to welcome Eaton Fire Residents United as a sponsor for AB 1642: Ending Insurance Driven Fire Testing and Establishing Science-Based Safety Standards," said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena)."No family should have to worry about whether their home is safe after a fire. We won't let this broken process continue to put families at risk. AB 1642 ensures that decisions about returning home are guided by science and public health, not insurance company guesswork. Eaton Fire Residents United has joined this effort to stand with families and communities as they rebuild, making sure safety comes first."

"People are living, learning, and working in places that may still be contaminated with lead and asbestos from the devastating LA Fires-and that is an urgent public health risk. AB 1642 creates clear, science-based statewide standards for testing and cleanup of indoor and soil contamination so families aren't forced to choose between coming home and protecting their health. We're sponsoring this bill because without these protections, communities like Altadena face an even steeper-and more unequal-road to recovery." -Eaton Fire Residents United

This bill sets a precedent that corporate interests should not be prioritized over the health and safety of people. Eaton Fire Residents United will be joining us as we advocate for those that have lost everything in the devastating LA wildfires and prevent them from being harmed due to inadequate testing standards.

The bill will be heard in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Tuesday March 10th.

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Assemblymember John Harabedian represents the 41st District composed of the cities of La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Oak Hills, Piñon Hills and Phelan.