Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director with U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said highlights of the law are the phthalates ban, the public database that reverses the CPSC's "longstanding culture of secrecy," and the added testing for toy hazards and certification for children's products. "These broad new protections are all in addition to doubling the agency's funding over five years, adding staff, increasing its civil-penalty authority and adding other tools to prevent dangerous imports and hold wrongdoers accountable," Mierzwinski said. "Finally, the bill preserves state toxic hazard warning laws and retains broad powers of state attorneys general to act as tough consumer cops, despite industry efforts to weaken their authority."