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December 19, 2007

CPSC bill passes House 407-0, good first step

Today the House passed its version of CPSC reform on a 407-0 vote. Excerpt from our joint statement with other leading consumer groups:

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.[...]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.

The Senate will not act on its CPSC bill, S 2045, this year. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), our lead Senate sponsor, has pledged early action in 2008. Nevertheless, the increase in CPSC appropriations to $80 million is a major holiday present for America's littlest consumers. That will become law as soon as the president signs the omnibus package.

The House bill reauthorizes the CPSC for three years, increases its civil penalty authority to $10 million, lowers allowable lead levels in children's products significantly and requires testing of all children's products subject to mandatory rules.

Our support for the House bill was tempered by the fact that the Senate Commerce Committee-passed bill was significantly stronger although we expect it to be modified and weakened in floor negotiations. Nevertheless, the House did get to the goal line first. Measures that are stronger in the Senate bill include the following: higher civil penalties for wrongdoers, better limits on secrecy of CPSC information, stronger language on preemption and attorney general enforcement and higher funding authorization for CPSC.

Key provisions that only appear in the Senate bill include a provision extending new testing requirements to all toys, including those under voluntary standards (such as small magnets and strangulation hazards) and a new provision protecting whistleblowers.

The House bill includes a provision requiring third party testing of infant and durable products (such as cribs); the Senate bill does not.

Posted by Ed Mierzwinski at December 19, 2007 05:21 PM

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