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Congress Passes Consumer Safety Bill, Bush Promises to Sign It

Bill provides for safer toys, more effective recalls, stronger enforcement

By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 1, 2008

• Soon-To-Be-Banned Plastic Toys Flooding the Market • Safety Agency Warns of Safety Hazards in Cribs • Bush Signs Consumer Safety Bill • Congress Passes Consumer Safety Bill, Bush Promises to Sign It • Consumer Safety Bill Clears Key Hurdle • Consumer Advocates Blame Lobbyists for Delays in New Toy Safety Rules • Congress Inches Towards New Consumer Safety Bill • Congress Reaches Agreement on Parts of Consumer Safety Bill • Consumers Press Congress to Pass Strong Product Safety Bill • Safety Agency Waits 16 Months to Recall Lead-Laden Key Chains • Lawmakers Propose Bill To Prevent 'Stove Tipping' • Senate Passes Tough New Consumer Safety Bill • Infant Deaths in the Nursery Increasing • Sears Stove Tip-Over Case Illustrates Safety Agency's Shortcomings • Next Season's Toys: Technology Meets Hannah Montana • Toys Safer than Ever, Toy Makers Claim • Toy Industry Needs Import Safety Checklist • Toys Getting Safer, Safety Chief Claims • Plastic War Hits The Toy Industry • Feds Propose New Furniture Fire Rule • Safety Recalls a Sign of Success? • Congressional Leaders Send Message to Mattel • Another Industry Lobbyist To Head Safety Agency? • $30 Million Settlement in Thomas & Friends Suit • Consumer Protection Bills Spark Bitter Lobbying Battle • Time Running out for Consumer Safety Agency --- • More Consumer Safety News • Recall Notices

The most sweeping consumer safety legislation in more than 30 years passed Congress late Thursday and President Bush will sign it into law, his press secretary said. It's expected to make toys and common consumer products safer, make recalls more effective and give more authority to federal and state enforcement agencies.

The measure gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) far more funding, staff and authority than it has now, though critics noted that was no guarantee the commission would suddenly become more vigilant and aggressive.

The Senate approved the legislation 89-3 Thursday evening. The House approved it Wednesday by a vote of 424-1 and President Bush says he will sign it.

“I can announce to you today the President will sign that bill,” said Dana Perino, White House press secretary. “We are committed to ensuring that the products that come into America are safe for consumers and that the regulating agencies have what they need in order to do their job.

Six types of phthalates, chemicals linked to genital defects in males, have been banned from toys along with lead. Also, toys will be required to follow a complex list of rules intended to make them safer.

The bill boosts the beleaguered CPSC, which many blamed for failing consumers during 2007, a year that had a record number of recalls. The agency'ss funding will double by 2014 and state attorneys general will be empowered to enforce safety laws in their states.

The phthalate provision makes three phthalates permanently illegal and three others temporarily illegal until the CPSC can determine whether the chemicals are safe or dangerous. More details on the complex legislation can be found here.

Despite intense industry lobbying, almost every pro-consumer measure in the bill survived in the final version.

“This really is an example of the public interests prevailing over the special interests,” said Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety for the not-for-profit Consumer Federation of America.

Since Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) authored the bill more than a year ago, there were concerns that President Bush would veto any legislation that could prove to be costly for manufacturers. But the White House clarified its stance Thursday afternoon, saying Bush would sign it.

“We still have a few concerns, but not enough that would keep us from signing the bill,” Perino said. “So the President will sign that as soon as they can get it to us.”

The vote was the final action for Senators before they departed Washington, D.C. for the five-week August recess.

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