Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

SUBCOMMITTEE ON
COMMERCE, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION MARKUP OF H.R. 4040, THE “CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT”

November 15, 2007

H.R. 4040, the “Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act”, will end years of neglect of the U.S. consumer product safety system. Today’s markup underscores the bipartisan spirit that has been a tradition of this Committee’s work. Chairman Rush, as well as Ranking Members Barton and Stearns, are to be commended for their dedication to improving this bill as it proceeds through this Committee.

Let me also thank the stakeholder groups for their thoughtful suggestions for improvements of H.R. 4040. In particular, I wish to thank the Consumer Product Safety Commission staff who worked with the Committee on this legislation. In short, these stakeholders have contributed to the advancement of a workable, commonsense bill that will strengthen our Nation’s capacity to protect its consumers and their children.

Mr. Chairman, the bipartisan Manager’s Amendment you will offer at this markup makes a number of perfecting changes to H.R. 4040. I am pleased that a number of the outstanding issues raised by our colleagues – among them, Reps. Waxman, Schakowsky, and DeGette – will be resolved through this amendment, and I expect we will do further refinements as it moves to full Committee.

I thank the Members of this Committee for their input and underscore their concerns and their commitment to protecting consumers and their children.

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