Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Pompeo), I offer amendment No. 43.

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Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit funds for the voluntary recall proposed rule at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and prevent them from moving forward with a rule that would cripple the highly successful voluntary recall program currently in place.

Congress has expressed significant concerns over this proposed rule. Two years ago, the House approved this amendment, and Congress has repeatedly made it clear to the CPSC that it would cease in its quest to make unnecessary changes to a recall system that has worked well over the past 40 years. This system--one based on a successful partnership between businesses and the Commission--has helped ensure that consumer products sold in the U.S. are the safest in the world.

Congressional intent has been expressed in House-passed legislation, report language, letters from lawmakers, and oversight hearings. However, the Commission has failed to withdraw the proposed rule and has continued to indicate in its operating plan that it will move forward.

The CPSC does not even have the statutory authority to issue the rule. The CPSC has presented absolutely no evidence supporting its proposal, and all but one comment submitted expressed serious concerns over how the proposed rule would actually delay recalls and harm the effectiveness of our recall program.

The Commission unilaterally seeks to transform the voluntary recall process into a legal negotiation equivalent to a settlement agreement. The proposed changes would require companies seeking to implement a recall to hire an attorney, dragging out the process and creating a financial burden for small businesses.

The CPSC's proposed rule on voluntary recalls would slow down a process meant to be conducted with speed and without red tape. Consumers would ultimately be more at risk as recalls are delayed. This proposed rule would make it more difficult to remove defective products from the marketplace.

Mr. Chairman, passage of this amendment would remind the Commission that its mission is to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products in an efficient and reasonable manner. The proposed rule to significantly alter the voluntary recall process is contrary to that mission.

I urge Members to adopt this amendment.

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Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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