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Senators Klobuchar and Menendez Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Industry Paid Travel at Consumer Product Safety Commission

Legislation vital after CPSC chair took trips paid for by industry she regulates

March 4, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offered an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reform Act to prohibit Commission employees from accepting travel paid for by industries the Commission regulates.  The Senators questioned the judgment of the CPSC and its leadership in the wake of a Washington Post story last fall that revealed thousands of dollars worth of travel already taken at industry expense.  The full Senate is debating the CPSC reform bill this week.

“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.  This type of judgment makes it increasingly unclear that the CPSC is, in fact, doing its best to protect our nation’s children.”

“We should never again have to worry that our children are playing with lead-filled toys while the people that should be looking out for them are hopscotching around the world with corporate bigwigs,” said Menendez. “This is toxic travel, and we have to put an end to it. We need to make sure that these product gatekeepers are looking out for one interest and one interest only: the well-being of the American people.”

The legislation was offered as an amendment to the CPSC Reform Act.  It would prohibit any Consumer Product Safety Commissioner or employee from accepting payment or reimbursement for travel or lodging from any person with interests before the Commission.  The amendment provides the CPSC with $1.2 million for the next several years to cover travel and lodging.

Ever since the first recalls were announced last year, Klobuchar and Menendez have been leading voices to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help better protect consumers.  In addition to offering this amendment, Klobuchar was successful in including three provisions she introduced earlier this year as part of the final Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act.  Klobuchar’s legislation in the final bill bans lead in children’s products – the first time such lead standards will be put into law.  The legislation requires packaging and the toys themselves to contain batch numbers so parents can easily identify recalled toys already in their home.  Finally, Klobuchar’s legislation makes it illegal to knowingly sell a recalled toy.

Senator Menendez introduced the Restoring Truth in Regulator Travel Act last November in the wake of the revelations of industry-sponsored trips taken by CPSC Chairwoman Nord and her predecessor (http://menendez.senate.gov/pdf/110607Menendezbill.pdf). The legislation would prohibit such travel for all federal regulators. Senator Menendez has also called for the resignation of Chairwoman Nord (http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=286474).