The Federal Public Restroom Requirements Initiative (FPRRI) of the American Restroom Association.
The lack of publicly available restrooms in the United States is a problem that can be traced to policy gaps at the federal level. Both the Unites Stated Department of Labor and the United States Department of Health and Human Services have mandates to rectify this problem. The former has acted but the later has not.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulates workplace restrooms throughout the individual states through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA provides the necessary regulations to ensure that employees “will not suffer the adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not available” when needed.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans. DHHS, however, has failed to recognize the threat to public health if restroom facilities are not available and has remained silent on the issue. Consequently, as soon as Americans leave their places of employment, they lose their federally-protected restroom privileges.
The results include situations we see nearly every day. Local schools prevent students from using restrooms. Airlines deny passengers use of toilets sometimes throughout entire flights. Public transit systems put their amenities off limits to passengers. Local governments simply close tax-supported restrooms.
Recognizing that the mandate of DHHS is to protect the health of all Americans, The American Restroom Association launched the Federal Public Restroom Requirements Initiative (FPRRI). The advocacy group is calling on Americans to act through their representatives in Congress to ensure that DHHS spells out the public health requirements related to toilet facilities. This will not require new legislation, only that an existing mandate be met.
Take action: Write your US Senators and Congressional Reps!
Find the names of your Member of Congress and US Senators here. For information on writing an effective letter that gets action, see these tips.
We recommend a short three paragraph letter. In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and say you are writing in support of the American Restroom Association’s Federal Publis Restroom Requirements Initiative. Personalize your letter with an additional sentence explaining why this issue is important to you.
In the second paragraph, state the facts. Use this sample language if you wish: America’s lack of publicly available restrooms is a problem that can be traced to policy gaps at the national level. Two federal departments are mandated to set policy on restrooms and health. One has acted but the other has not. The U.S. Department of Labor regulates workplace restrooms through the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA regulations ensure that employees “will not suffer the adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not available” when needed. Ordinary citizens deserve the same protection ’Protecting the health of all Americans’ is the mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, it has not acted to address the adverse health effects of restroom non-availability.
In your third paragraph, request action. I am calling on you to contact Secretary Sebelius to request that her Department of Health and Human Services spell out public health requirements related to toilets. No new legislation is needed, only compliance with existing mandates.
Action in Oregon.
In 2010 and 2011, PHLUSH will be supporting this initiative of the American Restroom Association to rally the support of Oregon’s US. Senators and Members of Congress. In these efforts we are partnering with the Restroom Laws Movement, an Oregon group fighting for the right of students in public schools to use the restroom whenever they need to.
