The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) sent the following comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this week regarding the agency’s agenda and priorities, CFA urged the CPSC to hold a public hearing on the upcoming fiscal year’s agenda and priorities. While written comments are essential, they do not replace the intangible value that oral testimony provides. Indeed, consumer participation exemplifies the spirit of the agency and its statutes, which is designed for consumers to take part actively in the rules designed to protect them and their loved ones.

CFA also called on the CPSC to reinstate its Consumer Ombudsman position. Many years ago, CPSC created a Consumer Ombudsman to ensure that consumer voices were represented within the agency and build relationships to ensure consumer engagement. This was a vital resource for consumers, victims, victim advocates, and the other non-regulated stakeholders that engage with CPSC. Cutting the role further distances the Commission from the public it was created to serve because it weakens an important mechanism for ensuring that consumers, victims, and victim advocates have a meaningful voice in the agency’s work.

Further, CFA called on the CPSC to protect and modernize the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Unfortunately, recent reporting indicates that CPSC, through a private contractor, demanded some hospitals provide all emergency department patient records, including personally identifying information. If accurate, this would represent a significant departure from NEISS’s practices. It also raises serious questions about privacy, data security, statutory authority, and the necessity of information being sought. As such, CFA called on the CPSC to suspend such broad data requests until it publicly explains the purpose, authority, privacy safeguards, and benefits of this approach. Modernizing NEISS is necessary, but it must be done transparently and in a way that protects Americans’ privacy.

CFA addressed concerns about the agency’s recent actions in connection with international programs and partners. CPSC must strengthen engagement with international partners to address shared challenges because to do otherwise is to directly undermine operational readiness.

 
Finally, CFA called on CPSC to finally act on the known risks associated with custom window coverings and OHVs, products that have presented unacceptable risks for decades.