Burlington, VT - Rep. Peter Welch held a press conference today to address the recent failures in federal enforcement of consumer protection standards and the benefits of buying Vermont made gifts this holiday season, at Apple Mountain Gifts & Specialty Foods on Church Street in Burlington.

"This year we have seen the recall of over 25 million dangerous imported toys.  One great way to make sure you are purchasing safe gifts this holiday season is to buy Vermont-made gifts," said Welch.  "You are getting a safe, quality product and helping support Vermont's economy - it's a win-win."

In light of growing concern over the inability of the federal government to effectively protect children from dangerous imported toys, Welch has called for the resignation of acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Nancy Nord.  This year has seen numerous toy recalls for dangerously high levels of lead paint and, in one instance, a toy that metabolizes into the date-rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate.

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission has failed at protecting our children," said Welch.  "It's time for Commissioner Nord to go."  Nord has come under fire recently after revelations surfaced in the Washington Post that she accepted $60,000 in meals, travel, and hotel expenses from the toys, appliance, and children's furniture industry she is charged with regulating. 

"Accepting tens of thousands of dollars in travel, meals, and hotel expenses from the industry you are supposed to regulate shows extremely poor judgment," said Welch.  Welch is a co-sponsor of H.Res.819, a Congressional Resolution calling for Nord's resignation.

Since President Bush took office, the CPSC has seen its budget slashed, as the country has seen a rise in foreign toy imports and recalls of dangerous products.  [See chart, attached] Welch is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 3691, the SAFE Consumer Product Act, a bill to reauthorize the CPSC and to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Act.  It would:

• Require children's products to undergo independent third-party testing;
• Expand civil and criminal penalties;
• Ban lead in children's products;
• Enhance CPSC recall and inspection authority;
• Expedite recall disclosure to the public;
• Advocate the president to fill Commission vacancies;
• And provide additional resources to the CPSC.