Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act--Conference Report

Floor Speech

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT--CONFERENCE REPORT -- (Senate - July 31, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask today to speak on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

I commend the conferees for ironing out the differences between the House and Senate passed versions of this bill that will deliver to the American people strong and much needed reform to consumer product oversight. I was proud to be a cosponsor of the Senate version, and I would like to thank and congratulate Chairman INOUYE for his leadership and Senator PRYOR for his extraordinary work in crafting this outstanding, bipartisan bill.

Over the last several years the Consumer Product Safety Commission has become a shell of its former self, with a noticeable void in leadership. Dangerous goods and toys have fallen into the hands of our most vulnerable population while the CPSC has looked the other way. This act, however will prevent the CPSC from shirking its responsibility and ignoring its obligation to make America safe.

This act will provide the Consumer Product Safety Commission with the authority an resources it needs to be more effective in its critical mission to protect consumers. Quite frankly, the current product safety system is broken, and the CPSC is in desperate need of reform. Too many unsafe goods are reaching the shores of the United States. Too many dangerous products are finding their way into the hands of American consumers, and all too often, young children.

We worry about our kids when they are in class, when they are walking or driving home alone, even when they surf the Internet. We should not have to worry that the toys they play with might be hazardous to their health, or god forbid, even fatal.

The effectiveness of the CPSC has been severely undermined by years of budget and personnel cuts and, as a result, has been unable to keep up with globalization of the marketplace. This bill will reverse those trends and give the CPSC the budget and the tools it desperately needs to again become an effective force for consumer protection.

Protecting consumers, and especially children, is a priority, and the bill takes a tough approach to products that might threaten their health and safety. Imports of untested children's products will be prohibited, and mandatory third-party testing of children's products will be implemented. Tracking labels for children's products will help parents tie safety recalls and alerts to prior purchases. Children's products containing lead and certain plastic additives will be banned. A new Chronic Health Advisory Panel will be created. Finally, the sale of recalled products will be prohibited.

The CPSC must do a better job of getting hazardous products off the shelves and out of consumers' reach and these provisions will give the CPSC the tools to do just that. Manufacturers, importers, and retailers will be required to do their part as well or face serious consequences. The bill provides for increased criminal and civil penalties for those who knowingly and willingly violate product safety laws. It also gives State attorneys general the means to enforce Federal safety standards and get dangerous products off the shelf. Protections for whistleblowers are also included in the bill, so that employees who identify dangerous products along the supply chain can come forward with vital health and safety information without fear of reprisal.

These and other provisions of the CPSC Reform Act represent commonsense solutions to keeping consumers informed and safe from dangerous products. The bill will also ban industry-sponsored trips, which have the perception of unduly influencing CPSC officials.

Passage of this bill is vital if we hope to rebuild, reform, and revitalize the CPSC. The CPSC must be re-equipped to do its job of enhancing product safety and protecting kids and consumers from unsafe products.

The Federal Government must again become an effective force for consumer protection. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is a first step--and a vital one at that.

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