Holt Supports House-Passed Bill to Improve Consumer Product Safety

Press Release

HOLT SUPPORTS HOUSE-PASSED BILL TO IMPROVE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today supported the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 4040), comprehensive legislation that passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The authorization bill would strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and help ensure that families are protected from dangerous toys. Included in the bill is a provision that would ban lead beyond a minute amount in products intended for children under 12 years of age and prohibit the use of dangerous phthalates in children's toys and child care articles. The bill cleared a House-Senate Conference Committee earlier this week and awaits Senate approval and then President Bush's signature.

"As news stories from the last year demonstrate, we need to do much more to provide greater consumer protections for American families," Holt said. "This legislation would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission the tools and authority to keep American consumers safe from hazardous toys and products. I hope the Commission uses them."

The CPSC is the lead federal agency charged with combating the dangers associated with consumer products. However, in 2006 alone, reported toy-related injuries in the U.S. exceeded 200,000 cases. In 2007, 45 million toys and children's products were recalled - including Barbie accessories, Thomas the Tank Engines, toy magnets, and lead-coated jewelry. This year, the number of recalls of toys and children's products is up 29 percent over the first half of 2007.

When the CPSC was founded in 1973, it had a staff of about 800. Today, it employs about half that amount even as imports have increased significantly.

To strengthen the CPSC, the bill would double its budget to $136 million by 2014 and give it new authority to impose civil penalties on violators. The bill also would include protection for whistleblowers.

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