WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced today that the Senate has passed the Conference Report for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

Passage occurred last night [Thursday, July 31, 2008]; the vote was 89 to 3. The legislation reauthorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the first time in 18 years.

Chairman Inouye said:

“H.R. 4040 is the first step toward revitalizing an important safety agency and restoring confidence in the safety of consumer products for years to come.

“Media reports and consumer advocates have called this bill the most important piece of consumer product safety legislation in a generation. I call it legislation that is long overdue. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a small agency with an exceptionally broad and important charge, as the name suggests, the protection of consumers, particularly children from dangerous products.

“The Commission is responsible for ensuring that the more than 15,000 products – everything from infant cribs to all-terrain-vehicles – are safe to use. Every year, more than 28,000 Americans die and an additional 33 million are injured by consumer products. These numbers are too high, and an effective CPSC with increased funding, staff, and authority is essential to reducing these losses.

“I am very pleased that many of the key provisions which originated in the Senate, such as the searchable database, whistleblower protection, phthalates restrictions, mandatory toy safety standards and all-terrain vehicle safety standards, were included in the final bill.

“Several of these initiatives faced significant initial opposition from the Administration, industry, and indeed, from the Chair of the Commission itself, and I am pleased that we have come together in the House and the Senate to overcome these challenges.

“Reconciling the differences between the House and the Senate was no easy task, but I had no doubts that the work of the Committee would come to a timely and successful conclusion. The Senate conferees worked countless hours since the passage of the Senate amendment last March. I asked Senator Mark Pryor to take the lead on the original Senate bill reported by the Commerce Committee, and it became the backbone of the Senate amendment to H.R. 4040.

“Senator Pryor’s stewardship and attention to the details of this bill were essential to negotiating the conference report with the House. I also commend my good friend Senator Ted Stevens. Without his guidance and support, the Senate amendment would not have passed, and we would not have this groundbreaking legislation.

“I look forward to the President signing this landmark measure into law.”

 

 

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