I had high hopes upon writing my senator that he would really see the bottom line in the expensive testing that would be req'd on Feb. 10th. Here is the response I just rec'd today (I wrote him in February) and I think it sounds positive. Of course we won't really know until the deadline passes but I wanted to pass this on. Have a great day everyone!!
Dear Connie:
Thank you for sharing your concerns about the safety of food and consumer products produced domestically and changes established upon the passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, P.L. 110-314 (CPSIA). I am glad to have your perspective on this important matter.
As you may know, two federal agencies are largely responsible for protecting Americans from potentially hazardous products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food and medical products and has the authority to require recalls of any tainted or potentially tainted product. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for inspecting other foreign and domestic products and has similar recall authority.
During the 110th Congress, numerous bills aimed at addressing product safety concerns were introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives. Among them was P.L. 110-314, which I supported in the Senate with 89 of my colleagues. Signed into law by President Bush in August 2008, this law boosts the CPSC's funding and expands its authority, bans the sale of children's products that contain more than trace levels of lead, and requires third-party inspections and mandatory tracking labels for children's products.
Thank you for bringing to my attention some concerns which have been raised about the Act regarding industry guidance, with a particular focus placed on lead levels in manufactured products. I understand the perspective of small businesses and not-for-profit organizations which, in the midst of the current recession, have legitimate fears about possible financial burdens associated with compliance. At the same time, it is in our children's interest to protect them from harmful or defective toys, clothes, and other goods with which they may come into contact.
Legislation is currently in the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to delay the implementation of the new lead standards until all associated rules have been finalized. If this legislation is passed, small businesses and non-profits will have more time to determine cheaper ways to guarantee they are selling safe products, without needing to undergo expensive testing.
As the 111th Congress progresses, please know that I will continue to carefully monitor this situation and keep your thoughts in mind. Thank you again for expressing your views. Your input is an integral part of the legislative process, and I hope you will not hesitate to write again on any issue of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Ben Nelson
U.S. Senator
