Introduction of the Total Recall Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Total Recall Act of 2021, which would require businesses to strengthen and streamline notifications for product recalls to consumers.

Every year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls at least 400 products, but due to poor notification practices by manufacturers and producers, the average response rate of consumers for most recalls is only between 4 and 18 percent. Consumers are purchasing or failing to stop using products because they are unaware of recall notifications.

As a mom myself, I know that parents cannot be expected to check the CPSC website every time they purchase a product for their families. If a company sells a dangerous item, that company should be expected to market the recall as aggressively as they marketed the sale of the product.

That is why I am introducing the Total Recall Act, legislation which will implement much needed reforms to increase the effectiveness of products recalled by the CPSC. This bill will increase requirements for companies to post recall notices on their websites and social media, and require or encourage companies to use parts of the original marketing budgets of the product in question on notifying consumers of the recall.

The numbers don't lie; if consumers are not participating in recalls, then companies need to work harder to let their consumers know about any dangers that they face from continued use of these products. Companies know how to market products, it is time for them to apply those same skills to marketing recalls.

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