Fossella Calls for Congressional Hearing into Tipping Furniture Bill

Fossella Says Hearing Would Educate Americans of the Dangers of Tipping Furniture

[Washington, DC] – Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY13) today called for a Congressional hearing on legislation that is designed to protect children from the dangers of tipping furniture. Fossella also signed on as a cosponsor of the legislation this week.

Fossella’s call comes in the wake of three deadly accidents over the past five weeks in which children were crushed by televisions that toppled onto them. The most recent accident occurred Wednesday night in Brooklyn, where a four-year old girl was crushed when a television in her home fell onto her. In March, two Staten Island youngsters -- Christopher Damiano and Joseph DeMeo-Bonsangue – were similarly killed when televisions toppled onto them.

“These types of tragedies are often preventable with the installation of anchoring devices to secure the furniture or television to the wall,” Fossella said. “While I believe the measures in the bill will help alert parents of the need to anchor large televisions and furniture to the wall, it is self-evident that these items pose a potential danger to children. Yet in all too many cases, the items are not secured using anchoring devices. Placing a sticker on a box and including wall straps with the furniture or television may not alone significantly increase their usage. Therefore, I believe a Congressional hearing would complement the legislation by educating the American people on the need to take action to secure these items to the wall.”

Fossella said his office has held discussions with several corporate entities to develop a grassroots program in the community focusing on the safety benefits of anchoring furniture to prevent tragic accidents. He said he is hopeful of announcing the kickoff of a public-private partnership in the near future.

The Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act (H.R . 1861) requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue safety standards applicable to any furniture or electronic appliance that the Commission determines poses a substantial safety hazard due to tipping because of its design, height, weight, stability, or other features. It also requires the CPSC to issue regulations mandating warning labels on the packaging of these items and manufacturers to supply anchoring devices.

Fossella made his request for a hearing yesterday in a letter to Cliff Stearns, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

A copy of Fossella’s letter is below:
 
Dear Chairman Stearns:
 
Last night, a four-year old girl from Brooklyn was killed in her home when the family's television tipped over and crushed her. This tragic story is all too familiar to residents of New York City and, in particular, the people of my district in Staten Island and Brooklyn. In the past five weeks alone, two children on Staten Island, Christopher Damiano and Joseph DeMeo-Bonsangue, were similarly killed when televisions toppled onto them. Sadly, these stories are common in communities across America, where young boys and girls have lost their lives or suffered serious injuries when heavy furniture tipped over onto them.
 
These types of tragedies are often preventable with the installation of anchoring devices to secure the furniture or television to the wall. H.R . 1861, the Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act, requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue safety standards applicable to any furniture or electronic appliance that the Commission determines poses a substantial safety hazard due to tipping because of its design, height, weight, stability, or other features. It also requires the CPSC to issue regulations mandating warning labels on the packaging of these items and manufacturers to supply anchoring devices.
 
I have joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in cosponsoring this legislation, and I am writing today to urge the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee to hold hearings on the bill. While I believe the measures in the bill will help alert parents of the need to anchor large televisions and furniture to the wall, the fact is that it is self-evident that such items pose a potential danger to children. Yet in all too many cases, these items are not secured using anchoring devices. Placing a sticker on a box and including wall straps with the furniture or television may not alone significantly increase their usage.
 
Therefore, I believe a Congressional hearing would complement the legislation by educating the American people on the need to take action to secure these items to the wall. Indeed, my office has held discussions with several corporate entities to develop a grassroots program in our community focusing on the safety benefits of anchoring furniture to prevent tragic accidents. I am hopeful of announcing the kickoff of a public-private partnership in the near future.
 
I look forward to working with you and the Subcommittee in the weeks ahead on this issue. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Vito J. Fossella
Member of Congress

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