There May Be Some Hope!

There may be some hope in site with the CPSIA! Jenna from For the Love of Baby wrote to her officials office in Iowa, and she got a response from Senator Tom Harkin. Besides saying he was behind the act 100% and didn't think it needed changes, he said one little thing that gives me a ray of hope.

"I also recognize that this testing process may create a burden for small manufacturers. For that reason, I am pleased the law provides an exemption for crafters who only make one copy of each item."

This means that if I custom make everything, I can keep selling things!

I also heard that there was an APNewsAlert not long ago:

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House chief of staff orders federal agencies to halt all regulations pending review.

That means that they are examining things and might possibly change it! There is hope!

Here's a copy of the whole letter:

Dear Jenna:

Thank you for contacting me. I am always glad to hear from you.

I appreciate hearing your comments regarding the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act (CPSIA). I was a proud co-sponsor of this legislation.
This past year, Iowa's families were frightened by story after story of
dangerous products that had to be recalled. There were 472 product recalls
last year alone. From pet food to kitchen appliances, consumers were often
left wondering whether the products they were using everyday were safe.
One of the most upsetting occurrences was the news of toxic toys that
contained hazardous lead paint. More than 20 million toys were recalled
last year due to lead paint.

As you know, in order to better protect consumers, Congress passed the
CPSIA to provide new safety and accountability standards for manufactured
goods. It also authorized a much needed infusion of resources to the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency responsible
for protecting American consumers. Recent recalls have made it painfully
clear that the CPSC is grossly underfunded and understaffed. The bill we
passed will ensure the CPSC can beef up its staff and provide the
oversight Americans expect.

One important safety provision included in the bill is the requirement of
third-party testing and certification for children's products. I believe
this is a crucial provision. It is vital that Americans know the products
they are purchasing, especially for their children, are safe. I also
recognize that this testing process may create a burden for small
manufacturers. For that reason, I am pleased the law provides an exemption
for crafters who only make one copy of each item. Furthermore, I
understand the Commission is examining an additional exemption for
products made from untreated wood or natural fibers. I am also hopeful
that as more testing companies are founded, the costs of meeting the law's
requirements will come down.
I do not, however, favor a blanket exemption for all small businesses.
Many recalls in the past have come from small manufacturers, and it is
imperative that parents know that a product does not contain lead, no
matter who manufactured it. While I am extremely sympathetic that this
requirement may be a significant burden for many small businesses, I
believe our children's health and safety must come first and testing is a
necessary safeguard.

Again, thanks for sharing your views with me. Please don't hesitate to
let me know how you feel on any issue that concerns you.

Sincerely,


Tom Harkin
United States Senator