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about the HR 4040. For those of you who do any children's clothing or toys of any sort there is a link towards the bottom of the letter. Those writing the policies want to hear form we the little people.

Please consider writing your congressman, senators and reps. Please contact the link below and let your voice be known.

Here is the reply I received from Tim Murphy.
Thanks for letting me share.

Dear Mrs. Karchella-MacCumbee



Thank you for contacting me regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and the impact new safety regulations may have on small, domestic businesses like yours. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.



As you know, a recent spate of product recalls - predominantly of goods made in China - spurred Congress to take bipartisan action to protect consumers and children from harmful products. In 2007, there were 61 toy recalls consisting of 25 million individual toys. 175,000 Curious George dolls were recalled because of dangerous levels of lead. 4.2 million aqua-dots had to be recalled because if these small items were swallowed, a child could develop respiratory depression, suffer a seizure, or even become comatose.



Congress swiftly took action to improve product safety. I was pleased to support the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040), which passed the House of Representatives 417-0. The bill reduces permissible lead content levels and bans dangerous phthalates from children's apparel and toys. It also requires third-party testing to ensure compliance with these rules and increases the funding and authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). To simplify any future recalls, toys and apparel intended for children under the age of 12 must now include tracking labels when feasible. Perhaps most importantly, the bill grants the CPSC the express ability to quickly stop the distribution of products that pose an "imminent risk of severe injury or death."



Like you, I am concerned what the impact of these new rules could have on small domestic business owners, many of whom are already meeting and exceeding the shared expectation of quality and safety associated with American-made products. That's why I was heartened to learn that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has clarified rules governing third-party testing standards. Only the importer or manufacturer will be required to produce a certificate proving third-party testing was completed. Undoubtedly, more work remains to be done and I am hopeful that the CPSC will address the valid concerns of independent businesses that are already producing safe and reliable products.



The CPSC is currently requesting comments about the third-party testing requirements. I encourage you to write to them as well by their January 30, 2009 deadline. Comments may be filed by email to Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov, by facsimile to (301) 504-0127, or by mail to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814. Comments should be captioned "Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts."



Again, I thank you for taking the time to express your views. Should you have further ideas or if I may be of possible assistance, please feel free to contact me.



Please do not hesitate to contact me with further questions or concerns. If you are interested in receiving my email newsletter describing important votes and key committee activity, I invite you to visit my website at http://murphy.house.gov and sign up.

Sincerely,

Tim Murphy
Member of Congress