I’ve written before about the Handmade Toy Alliance, of which my cousin Jill Chuckas is the secretary. The HTA was formed after the passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 because it was interpreted by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to require small toy, clothing, and craft businesses to perform product testing that was intended for large manufacturers. As that would be too great a financial burden for the vast majority of them, they have been working to get the CPSIA amended to address their concerns.
There’s a draft bill called the Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act (CPSEA) now working its way through Congress, which the HTA has endorsed and has testified about before the House Commerce sub-committee. Unfortunately, as these things can go, negotiations have hit a snag. The HTA has sent out a call to action to its members and supporters to call their member of Congress and ask for the draft bill to go to markup so it can be debated and ultimately voted on. Jill forwarded their email on this to me, which I’ve reproduced beneath the fold. If you or someone you know is involved in this kind of business, this is of interest to you.
Republicans and Democrats disagree on CPSIA amendment that would offer relief to thousands of small batch children’s product makers
Will small batch makers and specialty retailers of children’s products survive the CPSIA? This has always been the question, as from the beginning, this law has left us suddenly on the verge of extinction. Eighteen months of hard work has resulted at least in recognition of the fact that our preservation was not considered when this law was passed. However, we are still very much endangered, and action is needed now more than ever.
Thanks to the collective voices of American small businesses and citizens, we were heard by the media and our representatives, and could not be ignored. Once again, we must raise our voices, to prevent handmade children’s products from becoming a casualty of Washington’s inner partisan disagreements.
Recently a bill was introduced by the Committee of Energy and Commerce, to amend the CPSIA, offering important relief to thousands of small batch business owners. This relief would prevent many from closing their doors. Democrats and Republicans in Washington can not see eye to eye on the need for the proposed agreement.
We need to tell our representatives today that it is time to take a stand, and show their commitment to keeping our businesses alive. We at the Handmade Toy Alliance urge you to call your representative in the House Commerce Committee and ask for the CPSIA draft bill to go to markup and become open for discussion. We have been told time and time again, that we must call, call, and call if we are to be heard. The combined power of our voices is what it will take to keep small batch children’s products from becoming a distant memory in America. Please help! Contact the Minority side at 202-225-3641, and Majority side at 202-225-2927. You are likely to get an answering machine. Leave your name, city, state, House Representatives name and share that they must work together openly in committee to bring about an amendment to the CPSIA now.
Thank you!
Feel free to email any questions or comments to us at [email protected].
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ToyAlliance
Twitter: http://twitter.com/toyalliance
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