[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IMPROVING CHILD-PROOF MEDICINE CAPS

  (Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a rare example of how 
Government can work with industry--instead of against them--on 
regulations that will improve safety. I am referring to the decision by 
the Consumer Product Safety Commission on child-proof medicine caps.
  New Jersey is home to 15 major pharmaceutical companies with over 83 
facilities statewide. The industry employs over 56,000 New Jerseyans 
and contributes close to $10 billion to our State's economy.
  Child-proof caps have become so hard to remove--especially for our 
elderly--that adults leave the bottles open or switch the drugs to pill 
boxes, where kids can easily get into them. The result was that more 
children were ingesting dangerous substances.
  In February, during a VA-HUD appropriations hearing, I asked that the 
commission work with industry to fix this problem. Yesterday's ruling 
does just that.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the commission and industry for working 
together. This is a win-win result and I am glad that I was able to 
play a part. This rule should improve child safety and make older 
Americans' lives easier--what could be better?

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