Timm recognized today in Statesman Appeal op-ed

A photo of Timm with other staffers working in Congresswoman Darlene Hooley's Salem, OR office.

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The following op-ed piece ran in the (Salem, OR) Statesman Appeal today:

Salem man's work lives on after his death

O'Cobhthaigh began push to ban dangerous chemicals

One person can make a big difference in this world, even after he's gone. That's the case with Timm O'Cobhthaigh, a local freelance photographer who died of a heart attack in April at 44.

Parents can thank O'Cobhthaigh for the fact that a dangerous substance soon will be banned nationwide from children's products such as rubber duckies and teething rings. President Bush signed the legislation into law last week.

That legislation came to be because O'Cobhthaigh noticed an Associated Press story about the substances last fall. California had banned them, and O'Cobhthaigh thought the matter was serious enough that it deserved national attention.

O'Cobhthaigh was working as a district aide for U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley, and he passed the newspaper story up the chain of command. Hooley staffers researched the matter, and Hooley introduced legislation. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 won passage in July.

The new law will mean a revolution in the kinds of toys, cups and other items that children play with and put in their mouths. Phthalates, the chemicals that make these items soft and pliable, have now been shown to interfere with the functioning of the hormone system. They're linked with certain defects of the reproductive system. They have no place in cribs and play pens.

No doubt thousands of people read that article about California's ban on phthalates and never gave it another thought. One Salem man cared enough to push for change - and as a result, kids across the nation will be safer.

Timm O'Cobhthaigh's life ended much sooner than he or anyone would have expected. But this piece of legislation is a fitting memorial for him.

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Joan Evans, chief of staff for Congresswoman Hooley, expanded on this in an email to me today.

Timm loved coming up with ideas and working as part of a team to get them accomplished. Like all our staff, Timm spent time listening to people and reading about current events to bring issues to Congresswoman Hooley's attention so that she might be able to help make a positive difference in people's lives.

During the flurry of toy and child product recalls, Timm noticed an Associated Press story about the state of California's attempt to ban phthalates, ingredients of questionable safety that make children's toys like teether and rubber duckies soft and pliable.

Knowing that our boss Congresswoman Hooley served on the committee that was drafting a comprehensive consumer product safety law, Timm forwarded the idea to me as something Congresswoman Hooley might want to pursue. Jennifer Wagner of our staff also raised interest about its inclusion in women's cosmetics and an alleged increased risk of breast cancer. Our legislative staffer, Josh Connolly, began researching the matter, and ultimately drafted a bill to ban the use of phthalates in children's products.

Congresswoman Hooley worked with Senator Diane Feinstein to introduced companion legislation that was included in the comprehensive bill when the Senate considered it.

We are proud of Congresswoman Hooley's win for consumers, as well as Timm's contribution to this effort. Timm's light still shines in the world, and in all of those whose lives he touched.

Anyone who wants to email Joan can do so at evansdc@verizon.net.