On 12 February 2024, AGU sent a letter to Representatives Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, and Mast offering support for the reintroduction of the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act H.R.7275.

On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million Earth and space scientists and allies, I am writing to thank you for reintroducing H.R.7275, the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act, and to offer AGU’s support for this important bill.

AGU shares your commitment to ensuring that the health of all Americans is protected, and a comprehensive national mercury monitoring network will play an important role in achieving that goal.

By establishing local and regional monitoring sites to measure mercury levels in air, water, and living organisms, this legislation will help to ensure that we have a strong base of knowledge about this potent neurotoxin. The establishment of a centralized online database for mercury data that can be freely accessed will allow this important information to be accessible to all. Finally, by requiring a report every four years with an assessment of the reduction in mercury deposition rates that must be achieved to prevent adverse human and environmental effects, this bill can help to ensure that future regulations to prevent mercury pollution are based on sound scientific evidence.

Many scientists within AGU’s community are dedicated to protecting and helping understand the connections between the environment and human health, by researching air and water quality, working to address environmental justice issues, and more. As such, they can attest to the negative impacts of mercury exposure and the importance of monitoring mercury in air, water, and living organisms.

Given our strong shared interests on the goals of this legislation, AGU appreciates your leadership and looks forward to working with you on this critical issue in the future.