Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement after the Committee favorably reported to the full House of Representatives six bills to protect American families from dangerous products:
“By advancing these six bills, the Energy and Commerce Committee is taking a strong step in protecting American families from dangerous products, two of which should no longer be on the market. These six bills will save countless lives and ensure the Consumer Product Safety Commission acts quickly to enforce the law and educate consumers about these common household dangers. I commend Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Schakowsky and all of the bill sponsors for their leadership."
The Committee favorably reported the following bills:
H.R. 2211, the “Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act" or the “STURDY Act," introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a consumer product safety standard for clothing storage units to prevent them from tipping over onto children. The bill was passed, as amended, by voice vote.
Amendment to H.R. 2211 offered by Schakowsky and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) was adopted by voice vote.
* The amendment modifies the definition of “clothing storage unit" to follow existing definition in ASTM standard; clarifies that standard applies to free-standing clothing storage units; clarifies that standard must simulate the weight of children up to 60 pounds; and provides that the weight shall be updated if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revises its Clinical Growth Charts.
H.R. 3172, the “Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019," introduced by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), would prohibit the manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribution in commerce, or import of inclined sleepers for infants. The bill was passed by voice vote.
H.R. 3170, the “Safe Cribs Act of 2019," introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), would prohibit the manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribution in commerce, or import of crib bumpers. The bill was passed by voice vote.
H.R. 1618, the “Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Earl L. “Buddy" Carter (R-GA), would direct CPSC to establish a grant program for states to purchase and install carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units of low-income families or the elderly; facilities that commonly serve children or the elderly, including childcare facilities, public schools, and senior centers; or dwelling units owned by public universities, and to assist in enforcement and education efforts related to carbon monoxide alarms. The bill was passed by voice vote.
H.R. 806, the “Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and David Joyce (R-OH), would direct CPSC to issue a consumer product safety rule to require flame mitigation devices in portable fuel containers. The bill was passed by voice vote.
H.R. 2647, the “Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act" or “SOFFA," introduced by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), would adopt the California upholstered furniture flammability standard, known as Technical Bulletin 117-2013, as a national flammability standard for upholstered furniture. The bill was passed by voice vote.
