Landmark Consumer Product Safety Bill Signed into Law | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Landmark Consumer Product Safety Bill Signed into Law August 14, 2008 WASHINGTON - Legislation shaped by U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) which sets unprecedented safety standards for children's toys in the United States and reforms the commission charged with keeping the public safe from potentially harmful or hazardous products was signed into law today by President George W. Bush.

"Today, children and parents across the country scored a huge victory in terms of product safety," Whitfield said. "I was proud to work with my House and Senate colleagues to craft this legislation which will protect our nation's most vulnerable from potentially dangerous and hazardous products. Having this bill signed into law today is truly a win for Kentucky families."

Today, the President signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Whitfield served as one of only 15 lawmakers on an exclusive conference committee which worked together to reconcile the bill passed by the House of Representatives last December and the version passed by the Senate in March.

The legislation signed into law today sets the toughest lead standard in the world for children's products and requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to lower allowable lead to only trace amounts, and then task them to revise this standard downward if it is technologically possible. The bill also requires mandatory third party testing for children's products to ensure compliance with CPSC regulations and standards.

In addition, the bill increases penalties for "bad actors," those who violate current consumer product laws, and increases standards on manufacturers for corrective action plans in the event of a hazardous product threat. The legislation also gives consumers access to a new database of complaints or accident reports for goods.

To strengthen the CPSC, the bill increases the funding authorization levels for the Commission significantly in the next year and then by approximately seven percent for each of the next four years. These new resources will allow the Commission to hire additional staff and update their laboratory to help them do their job more effectively.

As Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, Whitfield had a powerful voice in shaping this legislation. He worked to ensure that Kentuckians would be protected from hazardous and potentially dangerous products quickly and for the long term.

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