(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The House of Representative unanimously approved legislation Tuesday requiring that all portable gasoline containers be made with child resistant closures, an effort that Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District -- Kansas) has led since coming to Congress. H.R. 814, the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act, would help protect children from accidents involving gasoline containers around the home.

The problem first came to Moore’s attention after an incident in Leavenworth, Kansas, in which a four-year-old boy lost his life and his three-year-old brother was permanently scarred. The children opened and spilled the contents of a gas can, causing the gasoline vapors to be ignited by a hot water heater.

“Gasoline can be one of the most dangerous substances found around the home,” Moore said. “There is obviously a need for child resistant gas cans, just like there was a need to put other dangerous products in special containers. For less than $1 per gas can, we can help save children from severe burn injuries or death and put parents’ minds at ease.”

Although gas containers are sold with the express purpose of storing gasoline, they are not subject to the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, the law that requires child resistant packaging for medication and other dangerous household products. Since there is no gasoline in the containers when sold, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has no authority to require child resistant caps.

“Over the years, I have represented approximately 15 children who have suffered catastrophic burn injuries because gas cans lacked child resistant closures,” said attorney Diane Breneman. “For all of us who have campaigned for so long and hard to see this change, it comes with a mixture of emotions: we are thrilled that change has finally come, but saddened that it has come too late for so many who have needlessly suffered. Thankfully, our House of Representatives has acted to protect our children when the gas can industry was unwilling to do so.”

H.R. 814 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Senator Claire McCaskill (Missouri) is the lead supporter for this legislation in the Senate and will be pushing for approval in the near future.

“I hope that the Senate will follow our lead and approve this bipartisan, common-sense legislation as soon as possible so that it can be signed into law without further delay,” Moore said.