[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. OBAMA:
  S. 2048. A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned 
hazardous substances; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Lead Free 
Toys Act of 2005, which directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
to intensify efforts to reduce lead exposure for children.
  The unfortunate reality for many children--particularly in low-income 
and minority households--is the continued presence of high blood lead 
levels. Over 400,000 children in this country have elevated blood lead 
levels, with my own hometown of Chicago having the largest 
concentration of these children.
  Lead is a highly toxic substance that can produce a range of health 
problems in young children, including IQ deficiencies, reading and 
learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention spans, 
hyperactivity, and damage to the kidneys, brain and bone marrow. Even 
low levels of blood lead in pregnant women, infants and children can 
lead to impaired cognitive abilities, fetal organ development and 
behavioral problems.
  We know that lead poisoning is completely preventable. As the Nation 
has increased efforts to reduce environmental lead exposure, the number 
of children with high blood levels has steadily dropped. Restricting 
lead in gasoline and paint represent two major accomplishments in this 
regard. But much work remains to be done.
  Earlier today I introduced the Healthy Communities Act of 2005, to 
strengthen Federal, State and local efforts to address environmental 
health issues in communities already affected by lead and other toxins. 
However, we need to take greater proactive steps to prevent 
contamination, and the Lead Free Toys Act of 2005 will help us do just 
that.
  Disturbingly, lead is present in a number of toys and other 
frequently used objects by young children. According to research 
conducted by the National Center for Environmental Health, about half 
of tested lunch boxes have unsafe levels of lead. The highly popular 
Angela Anaconda lunch box was found to have 56,400 parts per million of 
lead, which is more than 90 times the 600 parts per million legal limit 
for lead in paint for children's products. Other lunch boxes showed 
levels of lead between two and twenty-five times the legal limit for 
lead paint in children's products. In most cases, the highest lead 
levels were found in the lining of lunch boxes, where lead could come 
into direct contact with food.
  This problem is not limited to lunchboxes. One study found that 60 
percent of more than 400 pieces of costume jewelry purchased at major 
department stories contain dangerous amounts of lead. From September 
2003 through July 2004, there were 3 recalls of nearly 150 million 
pieces of toy jewelry because of toxic levels of lead.
  This past August the Centers for Disease Control updated their 
``Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children'' statement calling for 
the elimination of all nonessential uses of lead in children's 
products. Specifically, the CDC urged a more systematic approach to 
identifying lead-contaminated items and prohibiting their sale before 
children are exposed, rather than usual recall efforts after exposure 
has occurred.
  The Consumer Product Safety Commission leads our national efforts to 
safeguard our children from potentially dangerous objects. However, the 
Commission has dragged its feet in aggressively addressing the problem 
of lead in toys. The Lead Free Toys Act, introduced by my colleague 
Congressman Henry Waxman earlier this year, requires the Consumer 
Product Safety Commission to prescribe regulations classifying any 
children's product containing lead as a banned hazardous substance 
under the Hazardous Substances Act. It defines ``children's product 
containing lead'' as any consumer product marketed or used by children 
under age 6 that contains more than trace amounts of lead as determined 
by the Commission and prescribed by regulations. The Act also requires 
the Commission to issue standards for reduction in lead in electronic 
devices.
  It's a national disgrace that toys that could pose a serious and 
significant danger to children are readily available in our department 
stores and markets. The Lead Free Toys Act of 2005 will help us keep 
our children safe and healthy, and contribute to national efforts to 
reduce lead exposure. I ask each of my colleagues to help support this 
Act.
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