Duck to participate in Lead Awareness events

Democratic congressional candidate Andrew Duck will participate in two events tomorrow designed to bring awareness to the dangers of lead poisoning in children’s toys.

The events are part of the United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Day of Action on Toxic Trade, where thousands of members and their families will demonstrate at over 100 congressional offices from across the country demanding that Congress take action on the issue.

The first event will begin at 10:30 AM at a private residence in Sharpsburg. Walter Ludwig, Duck’s campaign manager, said the event was designed so that “parents can learn how to test for lead in toys.”

Steelworkers will use “home testing kits”, according to Ludwig, in a workshop-like atmosphere, to demonstrate methods that parents can use to test for lead.

At noon, Duck will travel to Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s Hagerstown office to participate in a demonstration. Ludwig said Duck and others will try to “pressure” the congressman to support the U.S. Food and Product Responsibility Act, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Rep. Pete Visclosky of Indiana.

According to the USW, the “legislation would safeguard Americans against toxic food and products by shifting the responsibility on to the backs of the companies producing the goods and the importers importing them.”

Duck is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, and would face Bartlett in the general election.

Bartlett defeated Duck by 20 points in the 2006 election, but the Duck campaign has previously expressed confidence in the 2008 campaign.