Asked to Testify

[Former_Member]

I'm excited! My congressman is on the Small Business Committee in congress, and I went to visit with him a few weeks ago. The meeting went well, and I've kept up with him through his legislative director via email.

Well, they contacted me and asked me if I'd like to come to DC and testify before the Small Business Committee when they have their hearing! :D Waxman has canceled the hearing three times previously, but I'm optimistic that they'll be able to get a hearing.

I'm going to talk about my business and how the law as-is will put me out of business. I'm going to talk about my testing costs for phthalates and lead, and how the materials I use for my toys are not known to have either of those things in them.

I'm excited about this opportunity, and curious to see what kinds of doors this opens for me personally and professionally.

If you were testifying, what would you say to the committee? I want to take some ideas from vendors here as examples of the tens of thousands of businesses this will affect if left as-is.

[wigglysee]

congrats, I would be to nervous to speak at the hearing , I tend to ramble when I am nervous and noone understands what I am saying!!!

[Former_Member]

Good for you! That's very exciting!

The fact that they don't use risk assessment (I'm not sure if that's the correct term) in their guidelines is a big one. For instance, fabrics have a low risk for giving a harmful dose of phthalates and lead (if any at all), yet are currently included in the testing.

Lack of testing facilities that are able or willing to work with micro-businesses (WAHMs and the like).

These would be my main concerns.

[Former_Member]

Littlethings... thanks! I think the risk assessment argument is pretty powerful. All of the phthalate testing protocols call for "grinding" off a bit of the sample to make it into a powder to test... Hmm... grinding cotton fabric stuffed with corn-based fiberfill would be an interesting thing to witness. ;D

[Former_Member]

It's been brought up in several other threads, too. I think DeputyHeadmistress (sorry for the call-out) has some good info on her blog, too.

The other point that I would make, were I as brave as you, is that the vast majority of us (home crafter-types), use commonly and widely available materials, paints, woods, etc. These would generally be seen as "safe" to be sold (and things like paint are tested for safety/lead/toxicity). How does our using these "raw" materials a threat to public safety? This is not, of course, an argument to let us go without considering safety, but I think that a blanket that I make myself with commonly available fabrics should be viewed differently than a molded plastic toy imported from China, as a cotton or polyester bib should be viewed differently than a pacifier. (Both blankets and bibs are defined as "child care items" and thus the fabrics need to be tested for the phthalates.

I, too, would like to see them "grind" fabrics and fiberfill...

[Former_Member]

Congrats! Fingers crossed that Waxman doesn't cancel again!

I want to know why someone who makes a painting or paints a wooden toy with craft paint from a company like Delta (who manufactures in the US, and whose product conforms to all ASTM safety regulations) has to then have that product tested. This is stupid for two reasons:

1. Every crafter who uses these same materials is responsible for testing the products made with them, which is redundant, wasteful and pointless.

2. This implies that the Federal Government somehow believes in reverse alchemy! I'm no scientist, but "definitely not lead" + "definitely not lead" does not magically equal "lead".

[Former_Member]

that's awesome.

i'd really want to repeat until they get it the redundancy of testing.

you should look into something someone was talking about in another thread. in the UK, they are super strict, and she was saying they can self certify by basically doing what we came to do naturally, which is collect data from our suppliers.

[Former_Member]

If you would like to take some items for "show and tell" I'd be glad to send you a monogrammed pair of baby bloomers!

[Former_Member]

Oh, also, why are the possessions of a 12 year old treated the same as those of a 3 year old? Unless they have some kind of issue, most kids are done putting stuff in their mouths by that age!

Man, there are almost TOO many questions to ask, because this law is so frelled.

[Former_Member]

That's wonderful! It's nice to know there will be someone like you to represent the cause. I don't make baby things but I think it's a sad sad thing the government is doing and I hope you can help turn it around! Good luck!

[Former_Member]

LucysPocket says:
If you would like to take some items for "show and tell" I'd be glad to send you a monogrammed pair of baby bloomers!
**********

Ooh- that's a great idea. I'd send you something to show as well!

[Former_Member]

Here's some things I'ld do to get ready to testify.

- Bring 3 copies (1 for you, 1 for the chairman, & 1 for the aide to run off more copies of for the other mambers of the committee) of any documents that you brought with you to your original meeting with your represenative.
*Especially any testing quotes that you have from approved labs.

-Bring your own personal examples of your products along with any MSDS, COA, COC, and / or GCC showing that your "raw materials" have already been tested prior to you assembling them into a new product.

-Read this letter http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mi15_dingell/090305CPSC.shtml and see if you are able to answer any of the questions they want the CPSIA answers to use as bullet points in addition to any others you might already have.

Thanks to you in advance for accepting the reps invitation to testify.

[Former_Member]

Good luck!!

[Former_Member]

Make sure you have good logic and facts to back up any argument you may make. The more facts you have on paper (and that you have memorized) the better.

You may also want to add that small home-based crafters are unlikely to have lead contamination in either the machinery or environment in which items are crafted, because these are often the same environments where people live. Be prepared for someone to remark that environment could contribute lead contamination to an item even if the materials themselves were not contaminated before you used them.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I'm not really into children's goods. But I've seen the effect that these new laws are having on a lot of handmade sellers.

Good Luck!

[smeeta]

That's fantastic!

Best of luck to you :) (and the rest of us!)

[Former_Member]

That is so exciting!
A truly wonderful opportunity for the law makers to see "who" they are impacting. The ramifications of this law are ridiculously far reaching. The way everything is currently written, LIBRARIES are going to be targeted. This is deplorable. In our society we should be teaching and stressing literacy, not banning our children from the libraries.
I hope that they can see that this "law" is doing far more to hurt and hinder America, than it is protecting and serving.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!

[Former_Member]

Wow! Love your shop. :) I'm sure you will be a great representative of the Etsy community.

[Former_Member]

That is SO EXCITING!!!! Please keep us informed on the developments!!! :)

~~~ Jennifer

[SeatOfMyPants]

Phenomenal! Congratulations!

I think risk assessment and testing facility availability, as were mentioned, are two big ones to mention! Hope it goes great!

[TheWrapScrapPony]

WOW that's so exciting! You shop is one of my very favorites. Bring a bazillion of your "dangerous" teething giraffes. They will be so overwhelmed with their cuteness that Waxman's heart will melt like jello and they will just throw out the entire law :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the ideas and the offers for things to take with. I think I'm going to travel light and only bring a giraffe or two, a t-shirt, and a book printed before 1984 and have them set out on the table in front of me while I'm talking.

Again, I appreciate all the ideas! :D

[jeweltrinkets]

That's such good news!!! Educate them!

[Former_Member]

And thanks myblessedbaby... I'm a HUGE babywearing geek... LOL and I love your MT's!

[allisajacobs]

Congrats & thank you :)

What an amazing experience & honor to be asked to speak...

I guess I second the idea of the redundancy issue. I would also consider taking one of your giraffes. Sometimes I think the folks who signed it or are not sure about making changes don't have a crafters/artists image in their minds...they are only thinking plastic...

Best of luck! Look forward to hearing the feedback.

p.s. one of the mom's in my playgroup has one of your giraffes & it's just lovely!