CPSA meeting on Wednesday to discuss CPSIA impact on small business

[Former_Member]

I was poking around the CPSA site and discovered this...maybe this is a step in the right direction.

Wednesday, February 4

*Commissioner Thomas H. Moore; Pam Weller & Michael Gougisha, Counselors to Commissioner Moore, meeting with Michael Smith, President, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); William Estrada, Director of Federal Relations and Eric Lansing, HSLDA, to discuss Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the impact on small business; 1:00 p.m., Bethesda Towers, room 725. The meeting was requested by Eric Lansing. For additional information contact Ltaylor@cpsc.gov. Posted on Master Calendar 1/28/09. (S)

*Commissioner Thomas H. Moore; Pam Weller and Michael Gougisha, Counselors to Commissioner Moore, meeting with Jim Gibbons, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries International, Inc. (GII); Kim Zimmer, Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, GII; Judy Branzelle, General Counsel, GII, to discuss CPSIA impact on donated goods; 2:30 p.m., Bethesda Towers, room 725. The meeting was requested by Lynn Davis, GII. For additional information contact Linda Taylor, Ltaylor@cpsc.gov. Posted on Master Calendar 1/26/09. (S)

[Former_Member]

Anyone have any thoughts?

[Former_Member]

I think the CPSC is working ot try and find a work around...at least I really, really hope so...

[Former_Member]

I think so too. The extra work is already crippling that office. I'm just excited to see anything happen.

[SugarChicBaby]

Meetings are good...hopefully they use their time wisely and get to the point!! Geez, let's all wait til the last minute to start dealing with this issue huh? We have known about this for how many months?

That's why the CPSA needs to delay this. They just simply do not have enough time at this point to figure all of this out!!!!

[Former_Member]

I wish the leaders at etsy would request a meeting with the CPSC...

[Former_Member]

That would be wonderful.

I wonder if they have considered it?

[Former_Member]

I wonder if it's an open meeting or a closed one? I could probably get there via Metro in half an hour and bring along two homeschooled tie-dye-adorned kids. :-)

[PENultimateLeotards]

This letter was posted on "another site" by a home schooler:

Just got this via email from a friend. HSLDA is on board with this ridiculous act. (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) Looks like they are addressing the small business aspect of it, even for people who don't homeschool, etc.

Dear HSLDA Members,
HSLDA's Federal Relations Department
Help Us Protect You

If new consumer product regulations will harm your business, tell us so we can tell federal officials. Contact HSLDA’s Federal Relations Department at 540-338-5600 or federalrelations@hslda.org.

Many of you have contacted us with your concerns regarding the impact of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), and the forthcoming regulations. We have addressed some of these concerns in the online analysis, “Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.”

However, we are concerned about the effect that this legislation and the proposed regulations will have on small family businesses. It appears that many of these vital businesses could be forced to close due to the high cost of compliance with the CPSIA.

HSLDA is trying to help protect such family businesses, as well as the homeschooling families who may purchase educational items from such a family business.

We will be meeting with the commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday, February 4. It would help our efforts if we had actual accounts from family business owners who will have to go out of business, or make drastic cutbacks, as a result of this legislation and the proposed regulations.

If you are interested in having us use your family business as an example, please send us your contact information and a one- or two-page summary of your family business, the impact of the CPSIA, and what the likely harm to you will be. You may send this information to Eric Lansing at federalrelations@hslda.org. You may reach Eric and the rest of the HSLDA Federal Relations staff at 540-338-5600, if you have additional questions. We will only share your first name, name of your business, and your state of residence with the CPSC.

Thank you for your help. We are committed to doing all we can to protect family businesses, and are ready to begin lobbying Congress for an exemption to the CPSIA, if the commissioners are unhelpful to our cause.

Sincerely,

Mike Smith
HSLDA President

[spiceberrycottage]

If Etsy hasn't, I'd say they must! Let's all write and encourage them to do so. These laws will hurt all of us in one way or another! The serious consequences of this going into effect will have dire results on the US as well as the world economy. Please continue to write, call, jump up and down and let your voice be heard! Most of all, let us all support each other right now.

[Former_Member]

Generations- I bet we could start a collection to pay for your Metrocards if you did!

[chatnoirstudios]

I have 5.00 in my paypal acct. I'll donate it if you need it.

[Former_Member]

Just sent my story

[Former_Member]

and on Thursday there is meeting with the Gift and Home Trade Association

*Robert Howell, Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, and other CPSC staff meeting with Robin Harvey and other representatives of the Gift and Home Trade Association to discuss various issues regarding the CPSIA and its potential impact on members of the Gift and Home Trade Association; 1:00 p.m., Bethesda Towers, room 410 a/b/c. The meeting was requested by Robin Harvey, Baker Hostetler LLP. For additional information contact Robert Howell, (301) 504-7621. Posted on Master Calendar 1/26/09. (S)

[LaurieRyan]

lets keep our fingers crossed something gets done this time

[Former_Member]

Ooh, thanks for the offer! But I think I actually have a couple farecards still sitting around that I have to burn before they go paperless (if that hasn't already happened - it's been that long since I took Metro! LOL). Besides, Metro rides are an adventure for the kiddoes. :-)

Fair warning, though, the weather here is supposed to be AWFUL on Tuesday (2/2, am I reading my calendar right?), and when that happens they often have unscheduled leave across the DC-area government offices; it's entirely possible that it'll be cancelled or postponed at the last minute, so I may have to see if I can find out if there's a "Snow Date."

And I'll have to send the HSLDA guy my story. I'm not really generally their "target audience" homeschool-wise (we're more on the liberal end of the spectrum instead of the conservative), but this may well be one of those things where ideology is moot, KWIM?

Once the evening settles a bit, I'll see if I can't shoot them a letter that I can compose uninterrupted from start to finish. LOL

Thanks so much for the info! :-) I'm catching the CPSIA Cheerleader bug: "Rah!!!!" XD

[Former_Member]

marking

[PunkeyMonkey]

Things are moving, finally!

[Former_Member]

Do those wanting to make this a reality not understand that by doing this they will be sending business *away* from the US and to other countries? I'm all for global trade and doing business with other nations, but the big players are going to be the only ones able to afford testing. I'm sure these sentiments have already been expressed, but I just had to get it out there. Agh! I feel like I'm wringing the neck of a rubber chicken!

[Former_Member]

Hope this meeting makes a positve impact!
Crossing fingers!

[Former_Member]

"I feel like I'm wringing the neck of a rubber chicken!"

That really describes it well, doesn't it? I get so riled up when I read posts and articles and then I type type type and have to edit down my thoughts (and I don't really succeed....truth be told.... LOL).

But yes, that really is descriptive!

[Former_Member]

I certainly hope these meetings help. Am I wrong in my understanding though, even if the CPSC sides with small businesses and understands our ploy, don't we still ultimately need Congress to change the law? Hasn't that been the big issue? Hasn't the CPSC already made requests of Congress that are being ignored? I'm hoping this adds more fuel to the fire...

[ThePolkaDotTotSpot]

Hoping, hoping, hoping! Thanks for the info! ;) I am checking the forums here several times a day just looking for a glipmse of hope from some info someone found. This is a good one for today! ;)

[Former_Member]

Yes, congress needs to change the law...but why would they change the law if we don't put pressure on them. We can't do it by ourselves...we need all the help we can get. The more public this is the better. I still talk to people about it that have shops and they are clueless about the law. They wonder what I am talking about.

I am so frustrated by this issue. It is lunacy!!

I guess it sort of makes me laugh because I don't know what else to do. I can go to a fabric store, buy Strawberry Shortcake fabric, a pink zipper and pink thread. If I let my daughter play with each of these "components" it would be completely fine, but if I decide to turn it into a dress it is not. CRAZY!!

[PENultimateLeotards]

Toy makers get extra year to comply with lead test

Associated Press - January 30, 2009 6:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. makers of toys and other children's products will get an extra year to comply with certain lead and chemical testing rules.

Members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously Friday to hold off on a Feb. 10 deadline in which manufacturers were to sell only products that have been tested for lead and other harmful substances.

Last summer, lawmakers imposed the toughest lead standards in the world, banning lead beyond minute levels in products for children 12 or younger. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. Former President George W. Bush signed the measure in August.

The act came after millions of recalled toys and children's items, many of which were from China.

Manufacturers will now have until Feb. 10, 2010, to comply with the testing requirements.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.