Email Response from Sen Carl Levin

[Former_Member]

I am not a donkey, but I think I might vots for Sen Levin next term. He has really been a source of strength and inspiration for the state of Michigan. That he even took the time, or his aides, to send me a response when I know he is so busy is fantastic. He is truly rallying against the CPSIA, putting pressure where pressure goes. I am proud he is my Senator.

Dear Ms. Leonardo:

Thank you for sharing your concerns with me regarding the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). I appreciate your input. I have heard from a number of Michigan companies with similar concerns about this legislation.

We all agree that it is of the utmost importance to protect our children’s health and safety by banning lead and phthalates from children’s products, as demonstrated by the widespread support in Congress of the CPSIA. Given the current lack of resources at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), however, I am concerned that the effort to protect our children from dangerous substances has had some unintended consequences, including harming small companies that CPSIA was not aimed at in the first place.

On January 16, 2008, I wrote a letter to Senator John Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Mark Pryor, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, expressing my concerns about the implementation of the CPSIA. In this letter, I included examples of Michigan companies who would be negatively and inadvertently impacted by the implementation of the CPSIA and who have received little or no guidance from the CPSC about whether their products would be exempt from the testing requirements.

My staff has also weighed in with the CPSC regarding specific questions from Michigan companies, including wooden toy companies, thrift stores, consignment shops, sports equipment companies, and home crafters.

At a time when the President and Congress are working to take all possible steps to create
jobs, we are facing a situation where the unintended consequences of well intentioned legislation has resulted in the loss of jobs. I am hopeful that Senators Rockefeller and Pryor will work to provide the CPSC with the resources and direction needed to allow them to issue regulatory guidance in a more clear, rational and timely manner to avoid job losses while continuing to protect children’s health and safety.

Michigan is suffering from the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and I want to avoid expenses for businesses that are not commonsensical. As I continue to work on this matter, I will certainly keep your input in mind.


Sincerely,
Carl Levin

[Former_Member]

Way to go Mr. Levin!

[handsewn]

thank-you Senator Levin

[meredithdillman]

nice

[Former_Member]

When I lived in Michigan I did lots of volunteer work for Carl (and his brother, Sandy, who was our local rep). I'm thrilled to see that he is responding to this issue. Now if only the legislators in Virginia, where I live now, would step up.

[Former_Member]

Historically, hi neighbor! No we don't have any hope that our elected officials will get involved, but, then, we don't have to worry that our Atty. General will enforce it. So I guess it cuts both ways.

[Former_Member]

I got the exact same letter today! I was just coming to the forums to post it. :)

[Former_Member]

I've been calling the Oklahoma US House of Repr. and my senators offices. But I also called The State Chamber, Oklahoma's Association of Business and Industry, on their website reference to themselves "as the state's most effective lobbying organization representing all types and sizes of business. We are a private, nonprofit, business-membership organization designed to advocate business needs at the state and federal levels. Our staff consists of 21 professionals, including ten registered lobbyists" that is part of the description about what they do and I called them to ask about this CPSIA and explained about how expensive it would be and people planning on closing their stores because of it(brick and mortar stores, not just on line and craft shows). And they were alarmed at how far reaching it was, and said they would check into it. I was told today The senators and reps were contacted and basically businesses may not need to bother to get their clothing items inspected, the inspections are for items made after Feb. 10 and come early March they expect those items to be excluded and the inspections to be for items such as cribs, bassinets, playpens, etc. It will just take time for the changes to be made.

[Former_Member]

I'm with you frillerup! I mentioned earlier today in a thread that Levin showed up at one of my art fairs in Macomb a few years back. We talked a bit, he was truly impressed with much of what he saw at the show. He wasn't campaigning just out and about.

[Former_Member]

I just hope that he knows that lead in paint made in the U. S. has been banned since 1977. I can't seem to get that through to my Senator.

[Former_Member]

I got the same email. I was pretty impressed with what he had to say.

[Former_Member]

That's so awesome!

Wendymarsh that is so good to hear he was at a fair and was impressed. I don't see these guys doing that in their daily lives. It probably helped him a lot to get some perspective on the whole thing.