Washington, D.C. — Today the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed three significant consumer protection bills: the STURDY Act, Reese’s Law, and the Consumer Protection Remedies Act of 2022.
The Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act (STURDY) is significant legislation, first introduced in the House in 2016 that would direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create and finalize a mandatory stability standard to help prevent tip-over incidents involving dressers and other clothing storage furniture.
Reese’s Law, named after 18-month-old Reese Hamsmith, who died in 2020 after ingesting a button cell battery, would direct the CPSC to create mandatory safety standards to prevent the accidental ingestion of button batteries in children by: creating performance standards to require the compartments of consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries to be secure to prevent access by children six years old or younger; and by requiring visible, clear, instructive warning labels.
Consumer Protection Remedies Act of 2022 is vital legislation that would restore the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) authority to return funds to defrauded and deceived consumers, and deter wrongdoers with threat of restitution, injunctions, and removal of their ill-gotten gains.
“We appreciate the extensive work of parents, pediatricians, consumer organizations and other stakeholder organizations in reaching this important milestone of the passage of the STURDY Act and of Reese’s Law,” stated Rachel Weintraub. “These product safety bills will make furniture more stable and products containing button cell batteries more secure. These bills will save lives and we urge the Senate to quickly pass them.”
“The FTC is charged with protecting consumers from fraud and deception, but after a recent Supreme Court case, it lost its most effective tool to combat unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices,” said Rachel Gittleman, Financial Services Outreach Manager. “The Senate must pass the Consumer Protection Remedies Act to restore the FTC’s authority to return ill-gotten funds to defrauded and scammed consumers.”
“Congressional action is necessary to restore this critical tool to the FTC,” said Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection. “We urge the Senate to pass the Consumer Protection Remedies Act so that the FTC can return to its important work of putting money back in the hands of defrauded consumers.”
Contacts:
Rachel Weintraub
Rachel Gittleman
Erin Witte