Today, consumer and scientific groups commended the House of
Representatives’ passage of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety
Modernization Act. Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, the U.S. Public
Interest Research Group, and the Union of Concerned Scientists released the
following statement:
“We appreciate the hard work that has gone into crafting
H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, and thank the House
Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Leadership for their prompt action
today. Our current product safety system
is in dire need of comprehensive reform, and this bill represents the first
concrete effort to help protect consumers while addressing industry concerns.
The issue now moves to the Senate, where we look forward to
working with members as they continue to work to strengthen the nation’s
product safety net. We understand that
the Senate is working on a measure that would give the CPSC greater enforcement
authority, such as state attorney general enforcement of consumer protections;
toy testing standards; public disclosure of important product hazard
information; and critical protections for whistleblowers, among others. We hope to work with both the House and the
Senate to get a strong final CPSC reform bill to the president as soon next
year as possible.
H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act,
reflects a compromise to fix our broken product safety system. This bill:
increases funding and staff for the Consumer Product Safety Commission;
includes a major provision to reduce lead in children’s toys and other
products; and establishes new testing requirements for children’s products.
This bill is a meaningful step in the effort to give CPSC
the tools it needs to protect American consumers, especially children, from the
hazards posed by unsafe products. We look forward to continued oversight by the
House of Representatives to ensure that the CPSC is doing all it should to
protect our children.
We also commend both houses for the anticipated final
passage later today of provisions in the Omnibus package providing CPSC with an
$80 million budget for FY08 –$17 million more than the Commission received last
year, and $16.75 million than the Administration’s request.”
