August 7, 2009

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) August 7, after the confirmations of Anne Northup and Robert Adler to be CPSC commissioners, called for a hearing to look at parts of the law. She wrote:

Product Safety Forum is a free service of Product Safety Letter. Its mission is twofold: to promote frank and open airing of product safety issues and to provide advice and guidance from top experts in the field. Do you have an idea or article you think would make a great piece for Product Safety Forum, including commentary or reaction to this one? Then email Publisher Sean Oberle to discuss it. To read more stories, see the archives.

This is a small agency with a daunting task and it needs all of its Commissioners to properly carry out its charge.  Although having a full quorum is important for the CPSC to continue its implementation of last year’s Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, I believe the Commerce Committee must hold a hearing to examine implementation of that law.  Especially now, as many businesses are suffering during these tough economic times, we must work with the CPSC to lessen the burden on America’s small businesses and home crafters while remaining alert to possible hazards that can make their way into our nation’s commerce.

Hutchinson, of course, is a Republican, and her party doesn’t control Congress right now. But at least two Democrats with power in CPSC matters have indicated such hearings might be likely. As Product Safety Forum reported last month, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance subcommittee of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said hearings are likely.

If hearings occur, a question is when. Congress might wait to see if a five-member commission is able to find solutions to some of the more complicated aspects of the law. At least one of those five has indicated that option is preferable. At his August 5 confirmation hearing, Robert Adler, when asked about the CPSIA, suggested that the five commissioners should determine what they can deal with administratively and only then go to Congress to request changes if need be.