Senator Durbin Criticizes CPSC Acting Chairman Nord for Her Criticism of CPSIA
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Durbin (D) recently sent a letter to Acting Chairman Nord of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) expressing concern over her recent public comments and letters that were critical of new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).
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Nord's Statements Show Resistance to Modernizing CPSC, Protecting Public
According to Senator Durbin, Nord's comments and letters show her continued resistance to modernizing the CPSC and to addressing the genuine public concern over unsafe products.
Senator Durbin states that Acting Chairman Nord did the following: (1) referred to the CPSIA, a bill that passed both chambers by overwhelming bipartisan majorities after a yearlong process that included the Commission's input as "pushed through", "not particularly well thought through" and "not-well-crafted;" (2) accused the CPSIA, which significantly strengthens the Commission's hand, as having "taken away our responsibility to look at the risks and make judgments about what is or isn't safe for American consumers;" (3) agreed with the implication that the CPSIA is responsible for the deaths and serious injuries of children who ride adult ATVs and motorbikes; and (4) did not emphasize enough the protection of consumer safety.
Despite the increased funding levels for the CPSC from $62 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 to more than $105 million for FY 2009 and the CPSC's significantly strengthened ability to protect the public from defective and unsafe products, Senator Durbin is distressed that these new resources are being sent to an acting chairman who disdains the authority and opportunity the new law and funding provide.
Senator Defends CPSIA Legislation
According to Senator Durbin, the CSPIA is the most significant improvement to consumer safety law in more than thirty years. The CPSIA gives the CPSC new authorities and resources; restores the five-member leadership of the Commission; virtually eliminates lead from toys and children's products; provides new enforcement tools; requires manufacturers to prove that their products meet national safety standards; and creates a publicly accessible database of hazards.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/25/09 news, 09032505, for BP summary of letters by CPSC Acting Chairman Nord and CPSC Commissioner Moore (who disagreed with Nord's approach) to Congressman Dingell answering questions and raising staff concerns about the CPSIA.)
Senator Durbin press release (dated 03/27/09) available at http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=310660