[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 965, CHILD SAFETY PROTECTION

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the conference report on the bill (H.R. 965) to provide 
for toy safety and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  (For conference report and statement see proceedings of the House of 
May 11, 1994 at page H-3227.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois [Mrs. Collins] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Moorhead] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois [Mrs. Collins].

                              {time}  1240

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have made child safety a priority since I became 
chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and 
Competitiveness over 3 years ago. Last Congress, I introduced H.R. 
4706, the Child Safety Protection and Consumer Product Safety 
Commission Improvement Act, which passed the House but was not 
considered by the Senate before adjournment. Today, Mr. Speaker, I am 
pleased to come before the House to support the adoption of the 
conference report to accompany H.R. 965, the Child Safety Protection 
Act, which is the successor to H.R. 4706.
  The conference report to accompany H.R. 965 includes the toy safety 
labeling and bicycle standards provisions that have already been passed 
by the House. Under the bill, toys that present a choking hazard to 
young children must have a label to warn parents of the choking danger. 
Bicycle helmets will eventually have to meet a Federal safety 
standard--initially based upon current voluntary standards--to ensure 
that the helmets will adequately protect against head injury. In 
addition, the conference report includes a provision added by the 
Senate to encourage children to use bicycle helmets.
  This legislation has drawn bipartisan support as well as support from 
a broad array of outside groups. I particularly want to commend the 
National Safe Kids Campaign for its work in developing this bill which 
is also supported by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Consumer 
Federation of America, Consumers Union, Public Citizen's Congress Watch 
as well as The Toy Manufacturers of America.
  Mr. Speaker, many individuals helped craft this legislation. I want 
to thank the distinguished chairman of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee, Mr. Dingell, the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. 
Moorhead, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Stearns. I 
also want to commend two important members of the subcommittee, the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Towns] and the gentleman from New Jersey 
[Mr. Pallone] for their work in helping to shape this legislation.
  I also thank Chairman Mineta of the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation and the ranking member, Mr. Shuster, for their work on 
the bicycle helmet provision.
  On the Senate side, I was particularly fortunate to have the 
assistance of Senators Bryan  and Gorton who were cosponsors of 
companion legislation and whose hard work was essential to moving this 
bill forward. I also want to commend Senator Danforth, Dodd, and 
Metzenbaum for their important contributions and for helping to bring 
attention to these child safety issues.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention 
some of the most important people of all--our children.
  A couple of weeks ago, 102 children, ranging from in age from 8 to 15 
every State and the District of Columbia, were making their rounds on 
Capital Hill. They were the National SAFE KIDS Summit Representatives. 
They did not come to simply tour, but to discuss the importance of 
injury prevention with Congress and the administration. Summit 
representatives, Tor Harper, an 11-year-old from Oregon, Marcus Young a 
14-year-old from Missouri and Katie Manchester a 10-year-old from 
Maine, who were saved from severe injury because they were wearing 
bicycle helmets, are some of the children that know from personal 
experience the importance of wearing bicycle helmets.
  At a hearing of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and 
Competitiveness 2 years ago, sixth grader from the Old Donation Center 
for the Gifted and Talented in Virginia testified about the need for 
warning labeling on toys that pose a choking hazard to young children.
  In an age of passivism and cynicism, it is inspiring to see children 
that are trying to make a change in our country. When our children come 
all the way to Washington to talk to us about matters of literally life 
and death--we must listen. Let us show our children that we are 
listening by sending H.R. 965 to the President.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the conference report on H.R. 965, the Child 
Safety Protection Act, because it seeks to increase parents' awareness 
of the choking hazards presented by some toys and to protect children 
from potentially hazardous products.
  The distinguished chairwoman of the subcommittee, Cardiss Collins has 
often been the proponent of measures intended to make our world safer 
for young children, as has the ranking member of the subcommittee, the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Stearns]. This legislation represents the 
natural extension of this effort and I commend her.
  H.R. 965 seeks to warn of the dangers to children posed by toys with 
small parts, small balls, and balloons, by mandating that specific 
labels appear on the packaging of those items. The toy industry 
supports this legislation. The portion of the bill concerning bicycle 
helmets is also useful because it mandates standards that are presently 
only voluntary and requires the CPSC to develop a single, mandatory 
standard.
  Because H.R. 965 will improve toy labels and bicycle helmets, I am 
pleased to support it.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, although I continue to have some 
reservations about this bill, I rise today in support of the conference 
report to H.R. 965. I certainly encourage any action that will assist 
parental awareness to potential safety hazards.
  My concerns stem from the fact that 2 years ago, the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission rejected a staff proposal a label toys because they 
found no evidence that even improved labeling would result in fewer 
choking deaths. The Commission also rejected a petition to develop 
mandatory standards for bicycle helmets because they found no evidence 
that voluntary standards were inadequate. My concern is not so much 
with labeling as much as the obvious intent of this bill to overrule 
the Commission's decision.
  The Consumer Product Safety Commission was established by Congress to 
help protect consumers from injuries that can be caused by various 
products. If we are going to have this agency, then we should let them 
do their job. The bill overrules the Commission's decision in both 
cases. If we do not trust the rulemaking process, then we should change 
the process and not attempt to make piecemeal changes along the way.
  I rise in support of the conference report and the adoption of Senate 
passed labeling requirements because it seeks to alert consumers to 
potential dangers and because it will eventually result in the 
harmonization of several existing voluntary standards. I hope that in 
the future we will not have to duplicate the actions of the Consumer 
Product Safety Commission.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Illinois [Mrs. Collins] that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the conference report on the bill, 
H.R. 965.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the conference report was agreed 
to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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