Lipinski Calls for Federal Crackdown on Unsafe Toys
Joins Consumer Group in Highlighting Unsafe Toys Heading Into Christmas Season

CHICAGO, IL - Today, Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL) called on Congress to pass tough legislation and force the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to keep children safe from dangerous toys.  Congressman Lipinski issued the plea as he joined Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and others at Children's Memorial Hospital to announce the release of Illinois PIRG's 2007 toy safety survey entitled Trouble in Toyland.

"This isn't just about defective toys, it's about a defective system that allows dangerous products to be placed on store shelves," said Lipinski. "Already, millions upon millions of toys have been recalled or cited with safety warnings, from Barbie dolls to model rockets to toy ovens to infant play yards, the dangers have proven to be too real.  As we enter the holiday season children are excited about receiving new toys, but parents and grandparents are scared about the potential dangers.  The government must step up and provide the protection Americans deserve." 

Trouble in Toyland is the 22^nd annual report on toy safety published by Illinois PIRG.  According to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data from 2005, almost 73,000 children under the age of 5 were sent to the emergency room with toy-related injuries.  That same year, 20 children died from toy-related injuries.  Congressman Lipinski is an original cosponsor of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, which will strengthen and modernize the CPSC, so the federal agency can have more resources to protect consumers.

"Parents should not have to worry or wonder whether a crib or toy they bought for their child is safe," explained Lipinski.  "Toy manufacturers have an ethical responsibility to ensure that the products they make are safe for children, but Congress should pass legislation to hold foreign manufacturers and foreign countries accountable for producing and selling dangerous products. The consumer safety system in the U.S. needs to be strengthened.  It should not be ‘Buyer Beware,' but "Bad Companies Beware."

Click here to learn more about what Congressman Lipinski is doing to ensure product safety.

Click here for ABC Channel 7 News Coverage on the Product Safety Press Event held today at Children's Hospital in Chicago.