From exploding lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, to furniture that tips over on infants and children, thousands of Americans are seriously injured or killed each year by hazardous or poorly designed products. And it’s up to one small – but mighty – government agency to find these products, warn consumers of the risks, get them off the market, and push industry for the safest products possible. But right now, the White House is floating a plan to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and shift its critical duties to another already over-burdened federal agency! It’s vital that consumers across the country tell their members of Congress right now to stop this horrible idea. The CPSC is an independent, bipartisan agency whose sole mission is to protect American families from banned, dangerous, and faulty products, and it shouldn’t be politicized, or have its power weakened to crack down on industry wrongdoing.
The CPSC saves lives and prevents injuries. Created in 1972 by Congress, the agency oversees the safety of thousands of products, from appliances to toys to exercise equipment. Childhood deaths from garage doors and refrigerator entrapment are almost non-existent these days, thanks to agency rules, and crib deaths and child poisonings are both down 80 percent since its creation. And new agency rules on battery safety and infant sleepers will help save even more children' s lives. Yet the Administration has proposed eliminating our product safety watchdog, and putting its duties inside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We think this is a dangerously misguided idea—especially at a time when HHS is already short-staffed and charged with running massive programs like Medicare, Medicaid, food safety inspections, and new medicine approvals. Without Congress defending the CPSC’s independence and its data-driven, safety-first mission, the agency can’t do its job. It can’t keep pace with emerging threats, stop dangerous products at the border, or hold companies accountable when they put profits over people. A weakened CPSC puts all of us — especially babies and children — at greater risk. Send an email to your members of Congress urging them to preserve an independent, bipartisan CPSC so it can continue doing the job it was created to do: protecting you and your family from dangerous products. Email your members of Congress now, and urge them to protect the CPSC.
When constituents speak up, lawmakers listen. Thank you for standing with us to put consumer safety first, and please share this with friends and family so they can act, too! Sincerely, | ||||||||
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