Consumer Protection Modernization Act

Floor Speech

CONSUMER PROTECTION MODERNIZATION ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 28, 2007)

HON. LAURA RICHARDSON
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2007

* Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 4040, The Consumer Protection Safety Modernization Act, not just as a strong believer in consumer safety protections but also as a proud co-sponsor of this legislation. This important piece of legislation helps protect Americans from harmful and potentially deadly substances found in our consumer products.

* Far too often, Americans are unknowingly confronted with tainted products putting their health and lives in danger. Last week alone, the Consumer Protection Agency had to recall 300,000 Baby Bead and Race Car Toys due to toxic levels of lead paint, 12,000 girls' hooded sweatshirts due to a strangulation hazard, and 12,000 Christmas candle sets that posed a serious fire hazard. These are only a fraction of the products recalled last week due to serious safety violations, and many of the products we Americans use are not even adequately screened.

* H.R. 4040 fixes many of the failures in our product safety system by requiring that all children's products marketed to children under the age of 12 must undergo third party testing and certification, reducing the lead standard acceptable in children's toys, raising the penalty for breaking consumer product safety laws, prohibiting the sale and export of recalled products, and drastically speeding up the Consumer Product Safety Commission's ability of recalling hazardous products. In addition, not only does H.R. 4040 address the current crisis of consumer product safety, but significantly increases the financial resources of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect us from hazardous products in the coming years.

* As we enjoy this holiday season with our loved ones, the American people should know that we as members of Congress are continuously working to ensure the safety of the products on America's shelves and wrapped presents shared during the holiday season.

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