Friday, January 9, 2009

Committee with ability to call for CPSIA hearings

The following information is taken from ETSY. I thought the addresses included needed to be posted. I already wrote letters to the chairman of the committee and of the subcommittee and to the main leaders of both.

IF we write enough letters, so that these men know the problem affects many, many people, they may take action.

The new chairman of the Committe of Energy and Commerce has the ability to call for hearings on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and advance critical legislation to resolve some of the issues. The best way to convince him of the need for a hearing to amend the CPSIA is to WRITE LETTERS to the four Energy and Commerce Committee leaders explaining our concerns and issues with the law as it is written and how it will affect us. Even if you have written to these people before, I urge you to send another letter.

Here are the names and addresses of the four Committee leaders:

The Hon. Henry A. Waxman
Chairman Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515


The Hon. Joe Barton
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Bobby Rush
Chairman Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade
and Consumer Protection
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Ed Whitfield
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade
and Consumer Protection
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515



Call to Action:
Write a letter to each man, explaining the problems of this law as you know them and how people, small businesses, etc. will be impacted. I wrote that books contain little to no lead anyway, and to have publishers pay for testing to prove themselves innocent would put many small companies out of business (and not only publishers)including 4RV Publishing; the cost of books would rise, meaning that fewer children would have books; and more economic disasters will be result -- in a time of economic problems. I also gave the impact on me personally.

If anyone does write these men, would you let me know, please? Also, spread the word and the addresses. The more letters, the more likely we will be heard.


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13 comments:

Lea Schizas - Author/Editor said...

Read your letter and stood up and cheered. Kudos.

Vivian Zabel said...

Thank you. You could write letters, too, since this law impacts you, even if you live outside the U.S.

Katie Hines said...

Read your post, Vivian. I've got their names and addy's. Will definitely write. Thanks for posting this.

Rena Jones said...

Thanks for the addresses, Vivian. I hope they can fix this so it makes more sense. Well, if they can do that in Washington, that is. I'm baffled by everything right now -- :-O

Vivian Zabel said...

The only hope is for this law to be repealed immediately and a new, well-written one written, omitting the portions that harm businesses that won't and don't have lead or have only minute levels of lead.

Cheryl said...

This is what happens when good intentions go astray. Thanks for the addresses Vivian. I'll definitely be drafting letters on this issue.

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

So far I have only found one small newspaper (“Metro”) even mentioning this law he wrote about a couple who made stuffed toys writer and how they will not be able to pay for the test. I wrote the newspaper journalist to let him know it was a bit bigger then just toys.
I hope to hear back from him.

Holly Jahangiri said...

Done.

Snail mail, no less. @#$% - you know, you really don't want to be the motivating factor behind me writing SNAIL MAIL. ;)

Vivian Zabel said...

Stephen, our major newspaper had an article about the effect of this law on toy and craft makers, but did mention all the other areas hurt, including publishers, books, schools, libraries. They didn't even run my letter to the editor. Ish.

Holly, I hope that the law is the motivating factor behind you writing snail mail, not that I am. Whew, the poor postal workers that handle those letters!

Donna McDine said...

Vivian...thank you for the valuable info...I plan on writing my letters this weekend...Thanks!

Warmly,
Donna McDine
www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Morgan Mandel said...

Thanks for making us aware of what's going on.

Also, just to let you know, on Sunday I'm posting at Double M about the Premio Dardos award you passed on to me.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Dana Fredsti said...

Thanks for your proactiveness in this, Vivian, and for getting the word out!

Vivian Zabel said...

Another way to help, but the voting is closed at 5 PM EST, Thursday, January 15:

Voting ends tonight. Please help save our small businesses.

I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are deciding the top 10 ideas for how they think the Obama administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America," and it's being run by Change.org.

One idea is titled: Save Small Business From the CPSIA. I thought you might be interested in getting involved and recommend you check it out. You can read more and vote for the idea by clicking the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama administration at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC next week and will be supported by a national lobbying campaign run by Change.org in partnership with leading nonprofits after the Presidential Inauguration. So each idea has a real chance at becoming policy.

Thanks for the help!

Vivian