This is wonderful news but I don't think we should let up. I think that we should all continue doing what we are doing and keep innundating the CPSC, Senators and House Representatives. I have put together the following letter to send to each plus to President Obama. Use any parts you like or not. It is only 1 page.
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Senator Amy Klouchar
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
January 21, 2009
Re: H.R. 4040
Public Law No. 110-314
S2663, S2045 Co-Sponsor Amy Klobuchar
Dear Ms. Klobuchar,
I write to you regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which you co-sponsored in the Senate. This bill is causing undue problems in this extremely volatile economy. The offending product which killed a child in Minneapolis, a charm from a pair of Reebok tennis shoes, was purchased and imported from China. Our own homegrown toys were not in anyway a danger to the children of this country. The paint that was found to have lead in it was also from China. This fact seems to have been left off of the bill that was signed into law. Now we have many small businesses, including mine, that can not afford to comply with this Act.
I have enclosed an Elephant that I make. This items will be considered hazardous on February 10, 2009 and can not be sold. On September 2, 1977 the CPSC banned lead in all paint in the United States and required testing of paint sold to conform to ASTM D 4236. Only adhesives, sealants and paints that conform to ASTM D 4236 can be sold in the U.S. Therefore, I am confused as to why this item is not safe for children and why I should have to go through the expense of undergoing third party testing to prove that it is safe. It does not contain Phthalates since it is not made of plastic and paint sold in the U. S. can not contain lead; so for my business independent third party testing is not only redundant but unnecessary. This then is my question; Why does this item need to be tested at all?
Small businesses can not afford this testing and will closedown. Since, I own a business I pay both Sales tax and Income tax for that business. Here in Minnesota I pay 7.5% sales tax on every dollar I make from residents of this state. The business then has a charge of 9.8% tax on profits. In addition these state taxes I also have federal taxes on the business. I am only one of many small businesses that will close it’s doors because of this law. On February 10, 2009 many of my fellow crafters and artisans will close their doors forever and have dubbed that date “National Bankruptcy Day”. So, therefore, I ask you: Are you willing to back up this law and have the U.S. Economy take a further dive because of it?
This little Elephant and all of his friends will be taken offline on February 9, 2009. This law was not thought through and it needs to be corrected. It was a knee jerk reaction in an election year. Now it has gone bad and needs your help to be made right. Please direct this testing to where it belongs; on imports from China.
Sincerely,
Nancy R. Beecher
The Lord’s Living World
4138 Colfax Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55412
