[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7723-H7727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NICHOLAS AND ZACHARY BURT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PREVENTION ACT OF 
                                  2019

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1618) to encourage States to require the installation of 
residential carbon monoxide detectors in homes, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1618

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nicholas and Zachary Burt 
     Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced 
     by burning any fuel. Exposure to unhealthy levels of carbon 
     monoxide can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, a serious 
     health condition that could result in death.
       (2) Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning from motor 
     vehicles and the abnormal operation of fuel-burning 
     appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, portable 
     generators, and stoves, kills more than 400 people each year 
     and sends more than 15,000 to hospital emergency rooms for 
     treatment.
       (3) Research shows that purchasing and installing carbon 
     monoxide alarms close to the sleeping areas in residential 
     homes and other dwelling units can help avoid fatalities.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     Congress should promote the purchase and installation of 
     carbon monoxide alarms in residential homes and dwelling 
     units nationwide in order to promote the health and public 
     safety of citizens throughout the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Carbon monoxide alarm.--The term ``carbon monoxide 
     alarm'' means a device or system that--
       (A) detects carbon monoxide; and
       (B) is intended to alarm at carbon monoxide concentrations 
     below those that could cause a loss of ability to react to 
     the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer 
     Product Safety Commission.
       (3) Compliant carbon monoxide alarm.--The term ``compliant 
     carbon monoxide alarm'' means a carbon monoxide alarm that 
     complies with the most current version of--
       (A) the American National Standard for Single and Multiple 
     Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms (ANSI/UL 2034); or
       (B) the American National Standard for Gas and Vapor 
     Detectors and Sensors (ANSI/UL 2075).
       (4) Dwelling unit.--The term ``dwelling unit'' means a room 
     or suite of rooms used for human habitation, and includes a 
     single family residence as well as each living unit of a 
     multiple family residence (including apartment buildings) and 
     each living unit in a mixed use building.
       (5) Fire code enforcement officials.--The term ``fire code 
     enforcement officials'' means officials of the fire safety 
     code enforcement agency of a State or local government.
       (6) International fire code.--The term ``IFC'' means--
       (A) the 2015 or 2018 edition of the International Fire Code 
     published by the International Code Council; or
       (B) any amended or similar successor code pertaining to the 
     proper installation of carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling 
     units.
       (7) International residential code.--The term ``IRC'' 
     means--
       (A) the 2015 or 2018 edition of the International 
     Residential Code published by the International Code Council; 
     or
       (B) any amended or similar successor code pertaining to the 
     proper installation of carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling 
     units.
       (8) NFPA 72.--The term ``NFPA 72'' means--
       (A) the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code issued in 
     2019 by the National Fire Protection Association; or
       (B) any amended or similar successor standard pertaining to 
     the proper installation of carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling 
     units.
       (9) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 3 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2052) and includes the Northern Mariana Islands and 
     any political subdivision of a State.

     SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING 
                   PREVENTION.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations authorized under subsection (f), the 
     Commission shall establish a grant program to provide 
     assistance to eligible States to carry out the carbon 
     monoxide poisoning prevention activities described in 
     subsection (e).
       (b) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
     State is any State that--
       (1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commission that 
     the State has adopted a statute or a rule, regulation, or 
     similar measure with the force and effect of law, requiring 
     compliant carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in dwelling 
     units in accordance with NFPA 72, the IFC, or the IRC; and
       (2) submits an application to the Commission at such time, 
     in such form, and containing such additional information as 
     the Commission may require, which application may be filed on 
     behalf of the State by the fire code enforcement officials 
     for such State.
       (c) Grant Amount.--The Commission shall determine the 
     amount of the grants awarded under this section.
       (d) Selection of Grant Recipients.--In selecting eligible 
     States for the award of grants under this section, the 
     Commission shall give favorable consideration to an eligible 
     State that--
       (1) requires the installation of compliant carbon monoxide 
     alarms in new or existing educational facilities, childcare 
     facilities, health care facilities, adult dependent care 
     facilities, government buildings, restaurants, theaters, 
     lodging establishments, or dwelling units--
       (A) within which a fuel-burning appliance is installed, 
     including a furnace, boiler, water heater, fireplace, or any 
     other apparatus, appliance, or device that burns fuel; or
       (B) which has an attached garage; and
       (2) has developed a strategy to protect vulnerable 
     populations such as children, the elderly, or low-income 
     households.
       (e) Use of Grant Funds.--
       (1) In general.--An eligible State receiving a grant under 
     this section may use such grant--
       (A) to purchase and install compliant carbon monoxide 
     alarms in the dwelling units of low-income families or 
     elderly persons, facilities that commonly serve children or 
     the elderly, including childcare facilities, public schools, 
     and senior centers, or student dwelling units owned by public 
     universities;
       (B) to train State or local fire code enforcement officials 
     in the proper enforcement of State or local laws concerning 
     compliant carbon monoxide alarms and the installation of such 
     alarms in accordance with NFPA 72, the IFC, or the IRC;
       (C) for the development and dissemination of training 
     materials, instructors, and any other costs related to the 
     training sessions authorized by this subsection; and
       (D) to educate the public about the risk associated with 
     carbon monoxide as a poison and the importance of proper 
     carbon monoxide alarm use.
       (2) Limitations.--
       (A) Administrative costs.--Not more than 10 percent of any 
     grant amount received

[[Page H7724]]

     under this section may be used to cover administrative costs 
     not directly related to training described in paragraph 
     (1)(B).
       (B) Public outreach.--Not more than 25 percent of any grant 
     amount received under this section may be used to cover costs 
     of activities described in paragraph (1)(D).
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Commission, for each of 
     the fiscal years 2020 through 2024, $2,000,000, which shall 
     remain available until expended to carry out this Act.
       (2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--Not more than 
     10 percent of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
     available to carry out this section may be used for 
     administrative expenses.
       (3) Retention of amounts.--Any amounts appropriated 
     pursuant to this subsection that remain unexpended and 
     unobligated on September 30, 2024, shall be retained by the 
     Commission and credited to the appropriations account that 
     funds the enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2051).
       (g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the last day of 
     each fiscal year for which grants are awarded under this 
     section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
     that evaluates the implementation of the grant program 
     required by this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Long) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on H.R. 1618.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 1618, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt 
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019. This important 
bipartisan legislation was introduced by Representatives Annie Kuster 
and Buddy Carter.
  This bill advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on July 
17, 2019, by voice vote, unanimous.
  Carbon monoxide--colorless, odorless, tasteless--is a silent killer. 
More than 400 people die and approximately 50,000 people visit 
emergency rooms every year in the United States from carbon monoxide 
poisoning.
  The tragedy is that these deaths and injuries are preventable. All 
that is needed is the installation of carbon monoxide detectors. 
However, many people remain unaware of the importance of carbon 
monoxide detectors or don't know how to install or maintain them 
properly.

                              {time}  1615

  This legislation aims to change that. It will assist States in 
educating the public on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and 
the proper use of carbon monoxide detectors.
  It will also provide States with grants so States can purchase and 
install carbon monoxide detectors in the homes of elderly and low-
income citizens, as well as in educational facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on all my colleagues to support this commonsense 
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                            COmmittee on House Administration,

                               Washington, DC, September 13, 2019.
       Dear Chairman Pallone: I am writing to you regarding H.R. 
     1618, the ``Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide 
     Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019.'' This measure, introduced 
     on March 7, 2019, was referred to your committee as well as 
     the Committee on House Administration.
       The Committee on House Administration agrees to waive 
     further consideration of H.R. 1618. The Committee does so 
     with the understanding that by waiving further consideration 
     of this bill it does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claims over similar measures.
       I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy 
     of your response in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of H.R. 1618 on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Zoe Lofgren,
     Chairperson.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                               Washington, DC, September 16, 2019.
     Hon. Zoe Lofgren,
     Chair, Committee on House Administration,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairperson Lofgren: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce and agreeing to discharge 
     H.R. 1618 Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Act of 
     2019 from further consideration, so that the bill may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House floor.
       As introduced, H.R. 1618, includes language related to the 
     Government Publishing Office. I understand such language was 
     included by bill sponsors in H.R. 1618 and previous versions 
     of this legislation in an effort to comply with a House CUTGO 
     rule that was in effect during prior Congresses.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this measure or similar legislation in the future.
       I will ensure our letters on H.R. 1618 are entered into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Frank Pallone, Jr.,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, once again, I can relate to what this 
bill is trying to address. I was an auctioneer for over 30 years before 
I came to this body, and there was a college professor who attended 
hundreds of my auctions over the years. He was quite a toy collector, 
and he was also a professor at Missouri State University in my hometown 
of Springfield. Very tragically, within the last couple of years, he 
and his wife both succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
  It is a silent killer. It can happen anywhere. There is no warning--
any time, any place. Anything we can do to augment a solution here 
would be very, very good.
  H.R. 1618 directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish 
a grant program for States to purchase and install carbon monoxide 
alarms in dwelling units of low-income families; for the elderly; 
facilities that commonly serve children or the elderly, including 
childcare facilities, public schools, and senior centers; or dwelling 
units owned by public universities; and to assist in enforcement and 
education efforts related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
  Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen anywhere in the United States, 
regardless of location or other external factors. It is an issue that 
is much more frequent than many realize.
  According to the CDC, 50,000 people a year in the United States 
experience carbon monoxide poisoning. Of those, at least 430 people die 
from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
  These grants will go a long way to carrying out carbon monoxide 
poisoning prevention actions, as they can be used for everything from 
installing alarms in these units of elderly individuals to training 
officials in the installation of such alarms.
  I am pleased to support passage of this bill today. It will improve 
safety and provide the tools and resources needed to combat this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1618, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster), the chief sponsor of this legislation.
  Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative 
Schakowsky for yielding.
  I want to say to Representative Long that I am so sorry for his loss, 
and, again, it is appropriate to be with him on the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, more than 20 years ago, Cheryl and Todd Burt experienced 
an unimaginable tragedy when their two sons, Zachary and Nicholas, died 
as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Zachary was 4 years old; 
Nicholas was only 16 months old. Cheryl, Todd, and their eldest son, 
Ryan, barely made it out of the home alive on that cold January 
evening.
  Today, the House is considering H.R. 1618, the Zachary and Nicholas 
Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act.
  This legislation is named in honor of Zachary and Nicholas, but it is 
truly for the over 400 Americans who die each year and more than 20,000 
who are hospitalized as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Among 
them are two of my constituents, John and April Courtney from Lyman, 
New Hampshire, who lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning just 
last February of this year.

[[Page H7725]]

  While it happens most frequently in cold winter months, carbon 
monoxide poisoning actually happens throughout this country.
  As a mother and an aunt, I know there is nothing more important than 
keeping our children and our loved ones safe, and that is why I am so 
proud today that the House is preparing to vote on my bipartisan 
legislation with my colleague Buddy Carter, which provides funding for 
States to prevent future carbon monoxide-related deaths by educating 
the public about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the 
importance of properly installing alarms in their home.
  It also supports the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in 
housing for the elderly and low-income individuals and high-traffic 
public buildings like schools. This bipartisan legislation will truly 
save lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my distinguished colleague, Buddy 
Carter, for working on this bill with me and helping to build a 
consensus for its unanimous passage in the Energy and Commerce 
Committee. I also want to thank Chairman Pallone and Congresswoman 
Schakowsky for making this piece of legislation a priority and 
including it in the package of bills today.
  At a time when Congress so often seems divided, this legislation is 
proof positive that we can work together on our committee to find 
common ground and get things done to help our constituents.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and thank Anna Yu and 
Alex Chasick from the Energy and Commerce Committee staff and Hart 
Thompson and Nick Schemmel from Congressman Carter's office for 
collaborating with my team, Will Pisano and Travis Krogman, to move 
this legislation forward.
  I am proud that this bill is supported by a diverse coalition of 
public safety and industry groups, and I include in the Record five 
letters of support.
  The first is a letter from 15 national organizations representing 
consumers throughout the United States. The second is a letter of 
support from the National Association of State Fire Marshals.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the 
gentlewoman.
  Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding. I will be quick.
  The third letter of support is from the National Association of Home 
Builders, which will demonstrate the bipartisan support. The fourth is 
from Consumer Reports, and finally one from the National Electrical 
Manufacturers Association.

                                               September 16, 2019.
       Dear Representative: As organizations dedicated to 
     improving consumer protections, we write to express our 
     support for two consumer product safety bills as they move to 
     the House floor this week. These bills would enhance 
     protections to prevent deaths from portable fuel cans and 
     injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. We urge 
     you to support these bills to protect children and all 
     consumers from preventable injuries and deaths.
       The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 
     Prevention Act of 2019 (H.R. 1618) would establish a grant 
     program, administered by the CPSC, that would encourage 
     states to require the installation of residential carbon 
     monoxide detectors, including for vulnerable populations. 
     According to the CDC, during 2010-2015, a total of 2,244 
     deaths resulted from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) 
     poisoning, with 393 of those deaths occurring in 2015. This 
     bill seeks to reduce carbon monoxide poisonings.
       The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019 (H.R. 806) 
     would help prevent flame-jetting incidents through 
     establishing a binding and enforceable standard that would 
     require flame mitigation devices, or flame arrestors, on 
     portable fuel containers to prevent flames from entering 
     these containers and igniting the gases inside. According to 
     National Fire Protection Association estimates, fire 
     departments responded to an average of 160,910 fires per year 
     between 2007 and 2011 that started with ignition of a 
     flammable or combustible liquid, resulting in an estimated 
     454 civilian deaths, 3,910 civilian injuries, and $1.5 
     billion in direct property damage per year.
       These bills offer a critical opportunity to protect 
     children and all consumers from preventable injuries and 
     deaths. We urge you to support these child health and safety 
     bills, and to vote ``yes'' on them as they move to the House 
     floor this week.
           Sincerely,
       Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AkPIRG), Center for 
     Justice & Democracy, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Child Injury 
     Prevention Alliance, Consumer Assistance Council, Inc., 
     Consumer Federation of America, Kids In Danger, National 
     Consumers League, OHSU/Doernbecher Tom Sargent Safety Center, 
     Parents for Window Blind Safety, Public Citizen, Safe Kids 
     Worldwide, Safe States Alliance, The Society for Advancement 
     of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), Virginia Citizens 
     Consumer Council.
                                  ____

                                           National Association of


                                          State Fire Marshals,

                                 Maitland, FL, September 16, 2019.
     Hon. Ann Kuster,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Kuster: The National Association of 
     State Fire Marshals (NASFM) thanks you for your continued 
     leadership in consumer product safety issues, and 
     specifically in protecting Americans from carbon monoxide 
     (CO) poisoning. NASFM strongly endorses H.R. 1618, the 
     Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 
     Prevention Act of 2019.
       The National Association of State Fire Marshals membership 
     comprises the most senior fire officials in the United 
     States. NASFM's mission is to protect human life, property 
     and the environment from fire and related hazards. As such, 
     we are extremely supportive of your legislation, which will 
     amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to require residential 
     carbon monoxide alarms to meet the applicable ANSI/UL 
     standards by treating that standard as a consumer product 
     safety rule, to encourage States to require the installation 
     of such detectors in homes, and in an overall effort to 
     prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
       Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a proven dangerous threat, 
     claiming approximately 450 lives annually, with another 
     21,000 Americans sent to emergency rooms due to unintentional 
     poisonings, according to Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention (CDC). Per the CDC, CO poisoning is the leading 
     cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, and because 
     CO is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, many people 
     are initially unaware they are even being poisoned.
       ``The National Association of State Fire Marshals 
     enthusiastically supports H.R. 1618, the Carbon Monoxide 
     Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019,'' said NASFM Executive 
     Director Jim Narva, ``It's important we all strive to 
     mitigate the potentially fatal effects of CO Poisoning. With 
     States focusing on low-income families, the elderly and 
     children, the enactment of this Bill and its grant program 
     will save countless lives.''
       Thank you again for your leadership on the carbon monoxide 
     alarm issue and we look forward to working to enact into law 
     this important public safety prevention legislation.
           Sincerely,

                                                    Jim Narva,

                                               Executive Director,
     National Association of State Fire Marshals.
                                  ____

                                           National Association of


                                                Home Builders,

                                               September 16, 2019.
     Hon. Ann Kuster,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Buddy Carter,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives Kuster and Carter: On behalf of the 
     approximately 140,000 members of the National Association of 
     Home Builders (NAHB), I am writing to express my support for 
     H.R. 1618, Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide 
     Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019. We appreciate your 
     willingness to work with us on this important issue.
       The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 
     Prevention Act of 2019 would create a grant program to 
     encourage states to install carbon monoxide detectors in 
     public facilities. NAHB members are involved in land 
     development and building single-family and multi-family 
     housing, remodeling, and other aspects of residential and 
     light commercial construction. While our members are 
     typically not involved in building schools, hospitals, 
     airports, and other public buildings, we recognize the 
     importance of requiring carbon monoxide detectors.
       According to the Center of Disease Control, at least 430 
     people die in the United States from accidental carbon 
     monoxide poisoning. As a response, majority of the states 
     have adopted statues, via building codes or state law, that 
     requires carbon monoxide detectors in all residential 
     buildings. NAHB supports legislation like this that promotes 
     the safety of occupants in a cost-effective way.
       NAHB appreciates your leadership on this life saving 
     legislation and we look forward to working with you on future 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
     James W. Tobin III.
                                  ____



                                             Consumer Reports,

                                               September 17, 2019.
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative: Consumer Reports, the independent, 
     non-profit member organization, urges you to vote yes on H.R. 
     2211, H.R. 1618, and H.R. 806, three bills that would

[[Page H7726]]

     help protect consumers from product safety hazards in their 
     homes. CR testified before the House Energy and Commerce 
     Committee in support of these bills in June, and urges their 
     passage today for the reasons below.


                       H.R. 2211, the STURDY Act

       Consumer Reports strongly supports H.R. 2211, the ``Stop 
     Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act,'' or the 
     STURDY Act, and urges its swift passage. The bill would 
     require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to 
     establish a strong mandatory safety standard to improve the 
     stability of dressers and similar clothing storage furniture 
     and help prevent deaths and injuries resulting from when they 
     tip over onto children. Long a hidden hazard in the home, 
     tip-overs send thousands of people to the emergency room 
     annually. Dressers and other clothing storage units are 
     particularly lethal, accounting for at least 206 reported 
     deaths since the year 2000, with most of the victims being 
     children younger than age 6.
       CR has found that the most effective and most widely touted 
     tip-over prevention strategy available today--anchoring a 
     dresser to the wall using brackets and straps--is not an easy 
     fix for the majority of consumers. Our nationally 
     representative survey last year of 1,502 U.S. adults found 
     that only 27 percent of Americans had anchored furniture in 
     their homes, and among Americans with kids under age 6 at 
     home, 40 percent anchored their furniture. Fundamentally, 
     because a child's life should not rely on consumer skill at 
     anchoring a dresser to a wall, CR has called on the furniture 
     industry to consistently produce dressers and other clothing 
     storage units that are designed to be more stable and that 
     better resist tipping over onto children.
       Over the past two years, CR has conducted extensive 
     research, analysis of incident and injury data, and 
     comparative testing of a cross-section of dressers in the 
     marketplace. Based on our investigation, we found that the 
     industry's voluntary standard leaves too many children at 
     risk. Our results demonstrated that it is feasible for 
     dressers at all price points to pass a more rigorous test. CR 
     bought 42 dressers for evaluation, and put them through a 
     series of three progressively tougher stability tests. While 
     13 dressers failed all but the first of the tests, 20 
     dressers passed all the testing, underscoring that 
     manufacturers are capable of successfully designing more 
     stable dressers. The failures reinforce why a stronger 
     standard is necessary to protect consumers. The 20 dressers 
     that passed all our tests cost various amounts, and were 
     representative of all price points in the market.
       In light of the unreasonable risk of death or injury to 
     children and the findings of our investigation, CR and others 
     have been advocating for the CPSC to develop and implement a 
     strong mandatory safety standard with performance 
     requirements for the stability of dressers and other clothing 
     storage units. While both Republican and Democratic CPSC 
     commissioners have expressed support for measures to 
     strengthen the current safety framework around furniture tip-
     overs, the agency has so far failed to act, and commissioners 
     have recognized that CPSC rulemaking under its Consumer 
     Product Safety Act Section 7 and 9 authority is likely to 
     take several years, if not a full decade, to complete. To 
     account for the weight of children under age 6 and the 
     feasibility demonstrated by CR's test results, CR has said 
     the standard should, at a minimum, include a loaded stability 
     test of 60 pounds. We also have said that it is critical for 
     the standard to be mandatory, not voluntary, for several 
     reasons, including because:
       Under the current system of safety oversight, consumers 
     essentially must place their trust in manufacturers that they 
     will produce a reasonably stable dresser;
       Wall anchors and other tip-over restraint devices, while 
     important, are no substitute for adequate stability 
     performance testing;
       A mandatory standard is justified under the Consumer 
     Product Safety Act--with the CPSC able to find that such a 
     rule is reasonably necessary and in the public interest;
       CR's testing shows that manufacturers are capable of 
     incorporating appropriate design changes to their products 
     that yield adequate stability, and of offering units for sale 
     to consumers that are affordable and do not sacrifice 
     utility; and
       Such a standard would allow the CPSC to enforce 
     requirements, including performance standards, and more 
     readily gain industry cooperation for recalls; historically, 
     companies have not carried out tip-over-related dresser 
     recalls unless they face overwhelming CPSC and public 
     pressure, or their product is linked to a death or failed 
     CPSC stability test.
       Enactment of the STURDY Act would help ensure the fastest 
     possible implementation of a strong stability standard, and 
     the reduced delay could save children's lives. In addition to 
     CR, the bill has the support of Parents Against Tip-Overs and 
     a broad coalition of 75 pediatrician, safety, and consumer 
     groups. A bipartisan majority of CPSC commissioners also has 
     expressed support for the STURDY Act and enactment of a 
     legislative solution that would permit the CPSC to take 
     faster action to help prevent tip-overs than the promulgation 
     of a rule under its traditional rulemaking authority and 
     procedures.
       The hazard to children of furniture tip-overs has been 
     insufficiently addressed by both the furniture industry and 
     the CPSC for years. Congress, today, has the chance to 
     finally force a more protective stability standard to take 
     effect. We urge members to seize this opportunity for 
     leadership on behalf of child safety and pass H.R. 2211, the 
     STURDY Act, without delay.


  H.R. 1618, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 
                             Prevention Act

       Consumer Reports supports H.R. 1618, the Nicholas and 
     Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 
     2019. According to the CDC, during 2010-2015, a total of 
     2,244 deaths resulted from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) 
     poisoning, with 393 of those deaths occurring in 2015. CR 
     often stresses the importance of installing and maintaining 
     CO detectors, and offers a buying guide and ratings to give 
     consumers comparative information about different products 
     that CR has tested. To help keep consumers safe, CR also has 
     published stories about how to ensure that smoke and carbon 
     monoxide detectors function properly.
       H.R. 1618 would establish a grant program for CO poisoning 
     prevention, administered by the CPSC. The grants would help 
     push states to require that up-to-date carbon monoxide 
     detectors be installed in all dwelling units and numerous 
     other facilities with the capacity to hold a large number of 
     people, and encourage states to develop a strategy to protect 
     vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, or low-
     income households. With hundreds of people dying each year 
     from carbon monoxide poisoning, it is appropriate to 
     establish a modest CPSC-administered grant program to promote 
     the installation of CO detectors, especially for vulnerable 
     populations. This grant program can be an important part of a 
     broader, multi-pronged strategy to significantly reduce 
     injuries and deaths associated with carbon monoxide 
     poisoning, and Congress should pass the bill.


            H.R. 806, the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act

       Consumer Reports supports H.R. 806, the Portable Fuel 
     Container Safety Act of 2019. According to National Fire 
     Protection Association estimates, fire departments responded 
     to an average of 160,910 fires per year in the 2007-2011 
     period that started with ignition of a flammable or 
     combustible liquid, resulting in an estimated 454 civilian 
     deaths, 3,910 civilian injuries, and $1.5 billion in direct 
     property damage per year. Manufacturers and safety experts 
     have identified a portion of the death and injury toll to 
     address through product design: incidents involving flame 
     jetting from portable fuel containers intended for reuse by 
     consumers.
       Despite the fact that people should never pour fuel such as 
     gasoline, kerosene, or diesel over a flame or use such fuel 
     for fire-starting purposes, people do--creating a foreseeable 
     scenario that this Act would help address. The Portable Fuel 
     Container Safety Act would require flame mitigation devices, 
     or flame arrestors, to prevent flame from entering these 
     containers and igniting the gases inside. This requirement is 
     consistent with a new voluntary standard recently finalized 
     by ASTM International that the CPSC could decide to treat as 
     a mandatory standard under the bill if the agency determines 
     that it meets the bill's minimum conditions.
       The new ASTM standard represents a step forward for safety, 
     and all portable fuel containers intended for reuse by 
     consumers should conform to its provisions. Congress should 
     pass H.R. 806 to ensure this standard or a similar standard 
     becomes mandatory. Consumers should have assurance that any 
     new portable fuel container they may buy--which they or 
     someone else may use or misuse--will contain an effective 
     flame mitigation device, and that the CPSC can readily take 
     action if a manufacturer fails to follow the law.


                               Conclusion

       Consumer Reports thanks all members of the House of 
     Representatives for their consideration of these important 
     bills to improve safety around the home for millions of 
     people nationwide. We urge you to vote yes on H.R. 2211, H.R. 
     1618, and H.R. 806, and look forward to working together in 
     the future to ensure a safe marketplace for all consumers.
           Sincerely,
                                                  William Wallace,
     Manager, Home and Safety Policy.
                                  ____

                                               National Electrical


                                    Manufacturers Association,

                                                September 9, 2019.
     Re NEMA Support for H.R. 1618--Nicholas and Zachary Burt 
         Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act.

     Hon. Ann M. Kuster,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Kuster: The National Electrical 
     Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the principal trade group 
     representing U.S.-based manufacturers of electrical products 
     and systems and medical imaging technology. On behalf of 
     NEMA's Fire, Life Safety, Security & Emergency Communications 
     product section, I am writing to express support for H.R. 
     1618, which promotes the purchase and installation of carbon 
     monoxide (CO) alarms in residential homes and dwelling units 
     nationwide. This measure is overdue and NEMA commends you for 
     your leadership on this important health & safety issue.
       Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Undetectable by human 
     senses--you cannot see it, smell it or taste it--CO is the 
     leading cause of accidental poisoning death in the

[[Page H7727]]

     United States. Often misdiagnosed or under-detected, CO 
     poisoning induces symptoms that mimic those of the flu, with 
     headache, nausea and dizziness being the most common. A CO 
     alarm or detector is an inexpensive, effective way to warn 
     that a dangerous concentration of CO is present, which can 
     occur whenever a fuel-burning appliance such as a furnace, 
     water heater, stove, or generator malfunctions or is used 
     improperly. Other common household sources of CO include 
     fireplaces and vehicles left running in attached garages.
       According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year 
     more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning 
     not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency 
     room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized. Regrettably, many 
     of these incidents could be prevented by properly installed 
     and maintained alarm systems.
       The need for detection and alarms is especially acute in 
     homes, where people sleep and typically spend most of their 
     time. Any residence that contains a potential source of CO 
     emissions should be equipped with protection from this 
     insidious life-safety hazard.
       Most states (as well as Puerto Rico and Guam) have enacted 
     laws requiring CO detection in residential dwellings, and it 
     is likely that more will adopt similar legislation or codes 
     in the coming years. These measures--along with education 
     efforts--have proven successful in reducing CO-related 
     injuries and deaths, but laws alone do not guarantee that 
     protection is in place wherever it is needed.
       The Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide 
     Poisoning Prevention Act will help states and local 
     governments implement these programs and provide greater 
     assurance that families are protecting themselves and their 
     loved ones from CO. NEMA particularly supports the bill's 
     emphasis on facilities that serve children and the elderly, 
     since they are especially susceptible to the effects of CO 
     exposure. All schools should have proper CO detection systems 
     in place and NEMA welcomes federal support in this regard.
       NEMA's Fire, Life Safety, Security & Emergency 
     Communications product section includes the world's leading 
     manufacturers of systems and devices that guard against not 
     only CO but other commonplace life safety hazards such as 
     fire and smoke. These companies strongly endorse measures 
     that help to reduce these hazards in more spaces and 
     environments where people gather. H.R. 1618 is an important 
     step in that regard and NEMA is pleased to support its 
     enactment.
           Very truly yours,
                                                    Philip Squair,
                             Vice President--Government Relations.

  Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. So, again, Mr. Speaker, this bill has 
strong bipartisan support, and I encourage all my colleagues to support 
it.
  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.
  When we go home, people say: Well, can't you all agree on anything up 
there in Washington, because all you all do is fight? Why can't you 
work in a bipartisan fashion?''
  I will admit, sometimes it seems like we can't agree to the fact that 
the Sun is going to come up in the east tomorrow, but on this bill, 
there is bipartisan support. We agree.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1618, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Long for his work on this 
legislation. It was really a pleasure to work with him on these bills.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to close as well, but I want to say, once in a 
while we will read in the paper of a family that fell victim to carbon 
monoxide poisoning, but mostly this is one by one by one, a couple 
people here, a couple people there, and it doesn't make the headlines 
as a problem. Yet we heard the numbers, the astonishing numbers of 
people who fall victim--sometimes, and many times, fatally, not 
always--to carbon monoxide poisoning.
  Again, this is something that is absolutely preventable, and so I am 
very grateful and hopeful that all our colleagues will support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1618, the ``Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 
Prevention Act of 2019.''
  I thank Congresswoman Kuster of New Hampshire for introducing this 
legislation which will save the lives of many children.
  H.R. 1618 directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish 
a grant program to provide assistance to States for specified 
activities related to the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning, 
including installation of alarms in certain dwellings and facilities.
  More specifically, this grant would assist in installing alarms in 
dwelling units of low-income families or the elderly, childcare 
facilities, public schools, senior centers, and student dorms owned by 
public universities.
  In addition to installation efforts, this bill would also assist in 
enforcement and education efforts related to carbon monoxide detectors.
  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning 
fuel.
  Exposure to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide can lead to carbon 
monoxide poisoning, a serious health condition that could result in 
death.
  In the month of August, a carbon monoxide leak at the Raveneaux 
Apartments in Houston sent eighteen people to the hospital--seven of 
these victims were children.
  This time, all of the victims survived.
  More than 150 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide 
poisoning every year.
  Home deaths account for the majority of accidental carbon monoxide 
poisoning, and research shows that purchasing and installing carbon 
monoxide alarms close to the sleeping areas in residential homes and 
other dwelling units can help avoid fatalities.
  That is why I urge all Members to join me in voting for H.R. 1618.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1618, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________