The undersigned consumer and medical organizations write to urge you to maximize funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC should receive at least the requested amount of $212.6 million, but we understand that the committee is operating under the constraints of the recent budget deal. As such, it is imperative that the CPSC’s FY 2024 funding be as close to its requested amount as possible. We also strongly urge you to protect the agency’s vital work from damaging appropriations riders and other limitations that would unduly restrict the ability of the CPSC to protect the public from hazardous consumer products, as it has been directed to do by Congress.
Established in 1972, the CPSC is an independent agency charged with a critical mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of illness, injury, or death associated with over 15,000 different types of consumer products. Any efforts to limit the CPSC in investigating or issuing sensible standards for a product category run directly counter to this aim. In addition, such an action by Congress would set a harmful precedent that could prevent the CPSC from protecting consumers in the future.
The agency should retain its current authorities, at a minimum, and be able to use them readily as warranted by the health and safety evidence. We oppose any effort that would undermine the CPSC’s ability to set data-driven and science-based rules to protect the public. Consumers depend on the CPSC to protect them from unsafe products, especially as the consumer product marketplace rapidly changes. If the CPSC is not adequately supported by Congress, people will suffer and be left at risk from both longstanding hazards and newly emerging ones.
We look forward to working with you to ensure that the CPSC is fully empowered to keep the public safe from hazardous products and protect consumers from product-related deaths and injuries, many of which can be prevented.
Sincerely,
American Academy of Pediatrics
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Reports
Kids In Danger
Public Citizen
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
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