Washington, D.C. – Consumer Federation of America, Kids In Danger, and Public Citizen applaud the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing a number of important children’s product safety bills that would protect children from hazardous products by a vote of 325 to 103. The Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act (H.R.1314), sponsored by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create and finalize a mandatory standard to help prevent tip-over incidents involving dressers and other clothing storage furniture. According to the CPSC, a child is sent to the emergency department every 60 minutes following a furniture tip-over incident, and one to two children die every month.
The U.S. House passed The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 (H.R.3182), sponsored by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Rep. Schakowsky and which will protect infants from sleep-related deaths by prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of padded crib bumpers and infant inclined sleep products. Crib bumpers and inclined sleepers are inherently unsafe products that have led to dozens of infant deaths and are inconsistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines. The House has previously passed both The STURDY Act and The Safe Sleep for Babies Act.
The House also passed the Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act (H.R.3752), sponsored by Rep. Cárdenas which will require the CPSC to study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on injuries and deaths associated with consumer products and to direct the Secretary of Commerce to study and report on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in the United States.
The groups call on the U.S. Senate to immediately pass these bills and for President Biden to sign them into law to prevent children from dying and getting injured from hazardous products.
“As we begin the summer months, the House has given American families a wonderful gift: protection from products that can cause their infants and children harm,” stated Rachel Weintraub, Legislative Director and General Counsel with Consumer Federation of America. “We express our deep gratitude to Chair Schakowsky and Representative Cardenas for leading the effort to pass these critical child product safety bills.”
“It is heartening to see these vital safety bills be passed on a bipartisan basis in the House,” stated Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of Kids In Danger. “Safe sleep, stable furniture, and attention to hazards that increased during the pandemic will ensure a safer future for our children. Thanks to the sponsors of these lifesaving bills.”
“Chair Schakowsky and Rep. Cardenas continue to be consumer protection champions for our families. We thank them for their leadership and hope the Senate will quickly pass these bills,” said Remington A. Gregg, Counsel for Civil Justice and Consumer Rights at Public Citizen.
Contacts:
Rachel Weintraub, CFA. rweintraub@consumerfed.org
Nancy Cowles, KID. nancy@kidsindanger.org
Remington Gregg, PC. rgregg@citizen.org