CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - December 19, 2007)
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Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, today the House will take up legislation that, in the great tradition of the Energy and Commerce Committee, was reported out of the committee unanimously. I would have voted for it as well had I not been on the House floor presenting another piece of legislation. I want to commend Chairman Dingell, Subcommittee Chairman RUSH, and Ranking Members BARTON and STEARNS for their great accomplishment.
This bill will develop a standard that will protect children from the dangers associated with lead exposure. It will create a national standard that is one of the strongest in the world and ensure that our toys are as safe as possible. This is an accomplishment that we all can be proud of. But let me point out that no one piece of legislation can make all the changes that we need at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. What we need to continue to look for are ways to further improve the CPSC.
We must ensure that the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the public get, and can appropriately use, information from manufacturers about the safety of their products. We must also ensure that the States have all the tools they need to permit them to fully assist the CPSC in its task because they will continue to be vitally important partners in enforcing the law.
Every day, Americans rely on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect them from dangerous products. To date, frankly, it has not done its job. This bill is the first step in changing direction and in making the CPSC the effective agency the American people expect and deserve. I know this will be a continuing effort on the part of the committee, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on that committee in a bipartisan way, I hope, to ensure that we achieve this goal.