WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement today as part of a Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee markup on H.R. 814; the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act, H.R. 1699; the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act; H.R. 1721, the Pool and Spa Safety Act; and H.R. 2474, to provide for an increased maximum civil penalty for violations under the CPSA:
“We appreciate the regular order process and while we have some concerns about the bills, we’re very pleased to be working to improve and report them to the full committee.
“There are four bills today. I’m told there’s going to be a corresponding manager’s amendment on each of the bills. The bills are intended to improve safety in areas where children are at risk. One deals with children’s toys, furniture, and other items posing such a level of danger that they must be recalled. We also have legislation to deal with gasoline cans that lack child-resistant caps. And we have a bill that covers swimming pool entrapment and all the problems that happen when a swimming pool is not properly equipped for children that inadvertently fall into the pool.
“To the extent we can improve the recall process, I think both sides agree that should be done. Parents should know as soon as possible if they own a product for their children that has been recalled. I have an almost two-year-old toddler right now and I can guarantee that if he can find a way to get into something that he shouldn’t, he will. It just seems to be part of his genetic code. I also appreciate the bills to equip gasoline cans with child-resistant caps. Again, little Jack has discovered the garage and seems to glory in going out and looking around on the lower shelves at the things that have caps he can try to unscrew.
“I do not have a swimming pool but I agree that the provisions for the pool safety program need to be improved. The bill before us apparently doesn’t allow the two states with the strictest pool safety laws – Florida and California – to be eligible for some of the grant funds under the bill. Hopefully your manager’s amendment or an amendment in the markup will help solve that problem.
“Finally, I want to say that when we look at allowing for new and safer technology, we should do that in the appropriate way as this legislation moves forward. New safety technologies may evolve but the current bill before us would not allow a state to permit its citizens the use of such new technology.
“The last bill today is not as much a bill to improve safety as it is to update the CPSA. It’s true the statutory fine maximum has not kept pace with inflation and needs to be increased. I’m not sure $10 million is the appropriate level. It’s seems to be a little high in my opinion. But again, I’m told you’re going to have a manager’s amendment that deals with this level.
“So all-in-all, let us say on the minority side that we strongly support the chairman’s efforts to move these four important bills forward. I want to personally commend you, Mr. Chairman, you’re the author of one of these bills and Congresswoman Schakowsky is the primary author of one of the others. I compliment each of you on your involvement in the process. With that, I yield back.”
