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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
07/28/08
Contact: |
Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
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CPSC Conference Report Agreement Reached
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.), Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) announce that the Conference Committee for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, has reached agreement on the Conference Report.
“This agreement is a victory for all consumers,” said Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Inouye. “Today we have proven that it is still possible to produce strong, bipartisan bills that serve the best interests of the American people. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been a neglected agency for too many years, but this legislation puts an end to that neglect. As a result, the CPSC will have the resources, both in personnel and in authority, to provide meaningful and effective oversight for the millions of consumer products that are used each day in the United States. There is no doubt in my mind that thousands of lives will be saved and millions of injuries will be prevented due to the agreement we have reached today.”
“This commonsense piece of legislation takes measurable and concrete steps to protect consumers and children,” said House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Dingell. “It establishes an outline for improving and reforming the nation’s consumer product safety system with provisions including a nationwide ban on products containing lead beyond minute amounts, desperately needed funding for the CPSC, and dangerous phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles. I am proud of the bipartisan spirit with which this legislation was reconciled and I look forward to seeing it sent to the President for his signature before the August recess.”
“This landmark legislation will make great strides in protecting American consumers and their children, and will ensure the products they choose to bring into their homes are safe,” said Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Stevens. “I am especially pleased to see a provision included to improve ATV safety by requiring both domestic and foreign manufacturers to comply with the same basic safety standards. Combined with proper training courses and consumer safety information, this provision will save many lives.”
"One of the roles of government is to get between kids and the sorts of hazards that are well beyond parents who aren’t engineers and chemists with laboratories at their disposal,” said Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Barton. “This reauthorization gives the CPSC more teeth and a deeper bite, and makes it dramatically more certain that toys aren’t tested for safety by kids on the living room floor before they’re tested in a lab by experts. We also reached a sensible compromise on the use of phthalates that every Member of the Conference Committee can support. Nobody wants our kids to be the guinea pigs in a quest for better living through chemistry, but it’s also imperative that we use unbiased, confirmable science to sort out the real dangers from the mythical ones. This bill also makes toy safety a national concern instead of relying on the growing conglomeration of local and state rules that threatened to leave everybody confused. Finally, the legislation demonstrates that normal congressional process works awfully well when it's allowed to, and that all the painful work of holding hearings, markups and conference committee meetings is more likely to produce a good outcome than the my-way-or-the-highway process that occasionally tempts lawmakers."
Brief summaries for the final items agreed to today are below:
Authorization of Appropriations – The Conferees agreed to modified language that would authorize the Commission for five years beginning in fiscal year 2010, starting at $118 million and ending at $136 million. The Conference Report provides a specific travel allowance for the Commission.
All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Standards – The Conferees agreed to mandate that the American National Standard for Four Wheel All-Terrain Vehicles Equipment Configuration, and Performance Requirements developed by the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, be published in the Federal Register as a mandatory standard. The standard would make it unlawful for a manufacturer or distributor to import into or distribute in commerce in the United States a non-compliant ATV.
Phthalates Ban – The Conferees agreed to modified language that would permanently prohibit the sale of children’s toys or child care articles that contain more than 0.1 percent di-(2 ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). The sale of children’s toys or child care articles containing concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), or di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) would be prohibited on an interim basis until a review by a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP). After the Commission receives the report from the CHAP, the Commission, by rule, would determine whether to continue the interim prohibition.
Whistleblower Protections – The Conference Report includes whistleblower protections for employees of manufacturers, private labelers, retailers, and distributors.
Third Party Testing; Inspection of Proprietary Labs – The Conferees agreed to require third party testing of certain children’s products and provide authority to the Commission to inspect manufacturers’ proprietary laboratories.
Mandatory Toy Standards – The Conferees agreed to language that would make the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standard F963-07, as it exists on the date of enactment of this Conference Report (except for section 4.2 and Annex 4 or any provision that restates or incorporates an existing mandatory standard or ban promulgated by the Commission or by statute) an interim consumer product safety standard pending evaluation by the Commission. The Commission would be required to establish the mandatory standards by rule after the relevant components of the standard are evaluated. The Conference Report requires the Commission to promulgate rules to ensure the highest level of safety for toys.
Notification of Noncompliance – The Conference Report amends the notification requirements under section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) to promote the timely, accurate, and complete disclosure to the Commission of information that is necessary to protect public health and safety.
Prohibited Acts – The Conferees agreed to modified language that is similar to the provisions in the House bill and the Senate amendment, incorporating into the CPSA violations created by this Conference Report.
Criminal Penalties – The Conferees agreed to language that would authorize the Commission to seek asset forfeiture as a penalty for a criminal violation of acts enforced by the CPSC and would increase maximum criminal penalties and remove the knowledge of notice of noncompliance requirements for directors, officers, and agents under section 21(b) of the CPSA.
Formaldehyde Study – The Conference Report directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the use of formaldehyde in manufacturing of textile and apparel articles.
Preemption – The conferees included preemption provisions where appropriate, ensuring a uniform national standard of toy safety. The Conferees also included language intended to clarify that the requirements under the Conference Report, the CPSA, and the FHSA shall not be construed to preempt or affect State warning requirements under State laws, such as California’s Proposition 65, that were enacted prior to August 31, 2003.
Conferees also reached resolution as to whether to preempt State authority under the new federal third party testing regime created in the Conference Report, agreeing not to insert preemption for federal third party testing.
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31st - |
Sen. Hutchison: Senate-Passed CPSC Bill Will Protect Consumers
- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), a member of the House-Senate conference committee, today voted in favor of the conference report to H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which passed the Senate 89-3. On Wednesday the bill passed the House by a vote of 424-1 and appears likely to be signed into law by the President.
“Congress has now passe...
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31st - |
CPSC Conference Report Passes Senate by Overwhelming Margin
- WASHINGTON D.C. –The Senate today passed the Conference Report for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The final vote was 89 to 3. The legislation reauthorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the first time in 18 years. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) gave the following statement in support of ...
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29th - |
Commerce Subcommittee to Examine Bus Safety
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee Oversight Hearing on Bus Safety, scheduled for September 18, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
The hearing will review the safety of over-the-road buses and the effectiveness of current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing...
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29th - |
H.R. 4040 Rule XLIV Compliance Statement
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Conferees certify that there are not any provisions contained in the Conference Report on H.R. 4040 that meet the definition of a congressionally directed spending item under Senate Rule XLIV.
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29th - |
July 31 Commerce Committee Markup Postponed
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces that the Executive Session scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. has been postponed.
A new date, time, and agenda will be announced as soon as it is available.
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29th - |
Commerce Committee Hearing on Prepaid Calling Cards Postponed
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces that the Full Committee Hearing on Improving Consumer Protection in the Prepaid Calling Card Market has been postponed.
A new date and time will be announced as soon as it is available.
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29th - |
CPSC Conference Report Available Online
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Conference Report for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, has been published online. Please use the following link to access the document:
http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr4040cr.pdf
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28th - |
current Press Release |
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28th - |
CPSC Conferees Reach Agreement on Final Items
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.), Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) announce that the Conference Committee for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, has reached agreement on the remaining outstanding items, pending final adoption of the complete conference report. The ...
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25th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Prepaid Calling Card Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for a Full Committee Hearing on Improving Consumer Protection in the Prepaid Calling Card Market. The full witness list is below.
The Committee will examine information disclosure to consumers, allegations of hidden charges and fees, discrepancies in minutes marketed and minutes receiv...
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25th - |
Commerce Committee Releases Advancing America’s Priorities Act Financial Disclosure Certification
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today releases the attached financial disclosure related to section 5227 of S. 3297, the Advancing America’s Priorities Act.
Section 5227 provides authorizations of appropriations for the National Undersea Research Program, including an authorization for the National Technology Institute, that are expec...
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24th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Announces July 31 Markup Agenda
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the agenda for its Executive Session scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Committee members will consider:
1. S. 3198, a bill to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality
2. S. 3274,...
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24th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from DOT Assistant Secretary Nominee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee Nomination Hearing for John P. Hewko to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
Nomination Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Time: ...
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23rd - |
President Bush Signs Bipartisan VoIP/Public Safety Bill Into Law
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush today signed into law H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging
Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, which contains key provisions authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator Olympi...
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23rd - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Consumer Protection Efforts in the Prepaid Calling Card Market
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee Hearing on Improving Consumer Protection in the Prepaid Calling Card Market, scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will examine information disclosure to consumers, allegations of hidden charges and fees, discrepancies in minutes marketed and minutes r...
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22nd - |
President Signs Maritime Pollution Prevention Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush yesterday signed into law H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act (MARPOL Annex VI). Reported by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with an amendment sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), H.R. 802 would require the Coast Guard and the Environmental ...
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17th - |
Stevens Praises Agreement to Combat Online Child Pornography
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised an agreement between the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to limit the distribution of child pornography on ...
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17th - |
CPSC Conferees Agree to Nine Additional Provisions
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.), Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) announce that at today’s Conference Committee Meeting for H.R. 4040, the Reauthorization of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following items were adopted by a unanimous voice vote pending final adoption of the ...
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16th - |
Nanotechnology Initiative Reauthorization Bill Introduced in Senate
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) today joined Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) to introduce the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008. The bill would reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative (N...
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16th - |
CPSC Conference Committee Meeting Scheduled for July 17
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Conference Committee Meeting for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act of 2007, scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., in Room 325 of the Russell Senate Building.
The Conference Committee Meeting is open to the public but will not be webcast. Please note that ...
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15th - |
Congress Approves Passenger Bus Accessibility Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Congress last night passed H.R. 3985, the Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007. This bill, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this year, would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to specifically consider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when determining whether a b...
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15th - |
Stevens Calls for Modernization of Nation’s Air Traffic Control System
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for modernization of the nation’s air traffic control system. Stevens also called for coordination between the government and the airline industry when developing and implementing a modern air traffic control system during a Commerce Committee he...
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15th - |
Senate Passes Bill to Ensure Americans with Disabilities Have Access to Interstate Bus Service
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate last night passed by unanimous consent H.R. 3985, the Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007, which clarifies the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s authority to enforce compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements for over-the-road passenger buses.
H.R. 3985 directs the Secretary of Transporta...
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11th - |
Witnesses Announced for Hearing on Summer Air Travel Outlook
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Outlook for Summer Air Travel: Addressing Congestion and Delay. The full witness list is below.
The combination of high demand and poor weather, in addition to an air traffic control system that lacks the nec...
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9th - |
Commerce Committee Reschedules Hearing on Summer Air Travel Outlook
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the rescheduling of an Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Outlook for Summer Air Travel: Addressing Congestion and Delay. The hearing has been rescheduled for July 15, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The combination of high demand and poor weather, in addition to an air traff...
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7th - |
Oceans Subcommittee Announces Witnesses for Fishing Safety Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for an Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee hearing on Fishing Safety: The Policy Implications of Cooperatives and Vessel Improvements. The full witness list is below.
The hearing will address fishing safety issues in the context of cooperatives and vessel improve...
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7th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Online Advertising Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Full Committee hearing on Privacy Implications of Online Advertising. The full witness list is below.
Individuals and businesses are becoming increasingly dependent upon the Internet for social, entertainment, research and business activities. This has created the incentive and...
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