Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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By Mr. GOODWIN:

S. 3896. A bill to protect children against hazards associated with swallowing button cell batteries by requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate a consumer product safety standard to require child-proof closures on remote controls and other consumer electronic products that use such batteries, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. GOODWIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Access to Button Cell Batteries Act. This legislation will ensure that the small batteries we find in everything from car keys to musical greeting cards are properly secured, and kept out of the hands of our children.

There is no question that technological progress makes our everyday activities a little easier. Such advancement has allowed for small batteries to be powerful enough to run many of today's devices, creating less bulky products.

Unfortunately, with advanced technology comes a new potential hazard. Many may not know the possible consequences when a child gets their hands on these tiny batteries.

Although many of these incidents are relatively harmless, should a child find one of these small button batteries, the consequences can be much, much worse--even deadly. We have discovered that battery ingestion has caused 13 deaths and numerous injuries, and from 1985 to 2009, there was an almost 7-fold increase in the percentage of ingestions with severe outcomes. This is unacceptable, and it is time for action.

Lithium cell batteries, some the size of a penny, are a growing concern. Beyond the choking risk to children, the real issue is what happens when they are swallowed. The batteries can cause internal burns, and lasting damage can occur in just a couple of hours. These injuries can cause death or lifelong injuries including damaged vocal cords or torn intestinal tracts that require surgeries or feeding tubes.

The Access to Button Cell Batteries Act would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to initiate a rule requiring that compartments on small battery products be properly secured.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

S. 3896

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