[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2200-E2201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NANCY COWLES

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Cowles, 
who was

[[Page E2201]]

honored last week with the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
Chairman's Circle of Commendation Award for her tireless advocacy for 
children's product safety. This is the first time that this award has 
been presented, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving.
  Nancy is the Executive Director of Kids in Danger (KID), an advocacy 
organization dedicated to protecting children by improving the safety 
of the products they play with or otherwise use. In the more than a 
decade that Nancy has headed KID, she has served on the front lines, 
educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of certain products, 
promoting the development of safer children's products, and advocating 
for important legislative and regulatory improvements. She has worked 
on numerous issues both as a member of panels and as an outside 
advocate for safety improvements in CPSC standards and recall efforts.
  Nancy has played a significant role in the improvement of consumer 
product safety, ensuring that children and families have a voice and 
that product-makers are held accountable. In Washington, Nancy's work 
has served as an invaluable contribution to the creation of CPSC 
standards and the implementation of recalls, no doubt saving many lives 
in the process. She has served as an invaluable resource for me and 
many of my colleagues who are committed to protecting the health and 
well-being of children.
  The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) became law in 
2008, and it is the most significant reform of the CPSC and its 
responsibilities in decades. With Nancy's input, I authored several 
provisions to the bill, including mandatory standards and testing for 
infant and toddler products such as cribs and high chairs and a 
provision requiring that postage-paid recall registration cards must be 
attached to products. I am proud of those provisions, and the overall 
bill, which would not have been as strong or protective without Nancy's 
guidance.
  I would like to thank the CPSC, and Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, for 
recognizing the contributions of Nancy Cowles toward making products 
safer for children and families. As the Chairman said, Nancy's 
``contributions to product safety are invaluable.''
  As a mother and grandmother deeply concerned about preventing 
injuries to children, I could not be more grateful for Nancy's efforts 
and I am proud to call her a friend.

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