NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Committee Announces Hearings on
Lead in Children’s Products:

Rush, Stearns Seek Information from Key Importers

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Energy and Commerce announced today that the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold an oversight hearing on lead-tainted children’s products imported from China on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.

To understand how these dangerous products continue to cross U.S. borders and flood stores and vending machines across the nation, Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Ranking Member Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) sent comprehensive information requests to nineteen different companies. Each of the companies had imported toys or children’s jewelry that had to be recalled in 2007 because the items’ paint or metallic content exceeded lead safety standards. In total, the nineteen importers were responsible for over 9 million recalled children’s items. In all but one instance, the products were imported from China.

“These massive recalls of lead-contaminated products raise serious concerns,” said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “I look forward to addressing the problem of unsafe children’s products at our upcoming hearing and determining how best to safeguard the health of our nation’s kids.”

“I am outraged that in 2007 lead-tainted products continue to endanger the health of our children,” said Rush. “We have known for decades that lead paint can harm the brain development of young children and may contribute, later in life, to behavioral problems or even criminal activity according to growing research. We also know that children put everything into their mouths – if they swallow trinkets made with high quantities of lead, it can kill them. We must do everything we can to avoid the tragic fate of little Jarnell Brown, the four-year-old Minneapolis boy who, last year, swallowed an imported heart-shaped charm given away with a pair of athletic shoes. He died a few days later from acute lead poisoning.”

“China’s trade policies have long undermined America’s economic interests,” said Stearns. “Now we are seeing Chinese imports posing a serious health threat throughout the nation. I am especially concerned with the use of lead paint in toys and the special health risks for children.”

The requests for information were sent to the following companies that imported toys and children’s jewelry from China and that were the subject of 2007 recall announcements by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for excessive levels of lead:

A & A Global Industries, Inc., Cockeysville, MD
Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas TX
Cardinal Distributing Co., Baltimore, MD
Claire's Boutiques Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL
Crimzon Rose Accessories, North Providence, RI
Discount School Supply, Monterey, CA
Dollar General Merchandising Inc., Goodlettsville, TN
GeoCentral, Napa, CA
Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, CA
Oriental Trading Company Inc., Omaha, NE
RC2 Corp., Oak Brook, IL
Regent Products Corp., River Grove, IL
Rhode Island Novelty, Cumberland, RI
Shalom International Corp., New York, NY
Spandrel Sales and Marketing Inc., Tempe, AZ
Target, Minneapolis, MN
The Boyds Collection Ltd., McSherrystown, PA
Tween Brands Inc., New Albany, OH
United Imports Inc., Flushing, NY

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