For Immediate Release: July 30, 2008
Sutton Helps Pass the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Through House of Representatives
Legislation will help protect consumers from unsafe products and toys
WASHINGTON, DC - Today,
with Congresswoman Betty Sutton's (D-OH) strong support, the House of
Representatives passed the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act by a margin of 424 to 1. Congresswoman
Sutton was a co-sponsor of the legislation and has been a staunch supporter of
consumer product safety. Congresswoman Sutton gave the following
statement on the House floor:
"Consumer
product safety is not an area that we can afford to ignore and this historic
legislation that we're passing today is a tremendous victory for consumers.
This
year, dangerous toy and product recalls are happening at an unprecedented rate.
I remember just a couple of months ago, reading a story in my local paper about
possible lead contamination in the paint on plastic Easter eggs. That is
unacceptable.
For
far too long, we have been reading story upon story about dangerous toys and
contaminated food. Imports from foreign countries continue to grow and many
manufacturers from foreign countries fail to adhere to even basic safety
standards. The American people should not have to worry about the safety of the
products they use or the toys they give their children to play with.
Last year, more than 25 million toys were recalled in the U.S. and 80 percent of all toys sold in the United States are imported from China. This
relationship between the growing import safety crisis and American trade policy
is notable and requires us to strengthen our oversight here at home.
To do
that, the Consumer Product Safety Commission needs to have the resources to
help protect our families and then they need to do it. Our bill strengthens the
CPSC and ensures American families are protected from dangerous toys. And this
legislation bans lead beyond a minute amount in many products, creating the
toughest lead standard in the world.
My constituents deserve to know that their government is
doing everything it can to keep their families safe. Today, with passage of
this bill, we are upholding that responsibility."
Click here to view
Congresswoman Sutton's floor statement
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Contact: Erin Donar at 202-225-3401 or Erin.Donar@mail.house.gov