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Senator Klobuchar Seeks to Prohibit Industry Paid Travel by Consumer Product Safety Commission

Klobuchar questions judgment of CPSC Chair in wake of thousands of dollars of travel paid by industry she regulates

November 2, 2007

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today she will offer an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act of 2007 to prohibit Commission employees from accepting travel paid by industries it regulates.  Klobuchar questioned the judgment of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and its leadership, in the wake of a Washington Post story revealing thousands of dollars worth of travel already taken at industry expense. 

“It flies in the face of basic common sense to accept paid travel from those you are charged with regulating,” said Klobuchar.   “This represents an astonishing lack of judgment on the part of Chairwoman Nord.  After months of recalls and millions of toxic toys in our stores and homes before the CPSC took action, parents across the country are wondering who is looking out for their children.  Today’s revelation makes it increasingly unclear that the CPSC is, in fact, doing its best to protect our nation’s children.”

Klobuchar is a co-sponsor of the CPSC Reform Act of 2007, and has been leading the charge for reform of Consumer Product Safety laws by working to enact an effective ban of lead in children’s products and make it illegal to sell a recalled toy.  Both provisions are included in the CPSC Reform Act.  The CPSC Reform Act passed the Commerce Committee unanimously earlier this week, and is headed to the Senate floor.

In her first year in the Senate, Klobuchar has also been a leader in the area of ethics reform, helping move legislation through the Senate earlier this year that represented the most sweeping ethics reform since the Watergate era.

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