[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE TOTAL RECALL ACT OF 2019

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                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2019

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of 
the Total Recall Act of 2019, which would require businesses to 
strengthen and streamline notifications for product recalls to 
consumers.
   Every year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls at 
least 400 products, but due to poor notification practices by 
manufacturers and producers, the average response rate of consumers for 
most recalls is only between 4 and 18 percent. Consumers are purchasing 
or failing to stop using products because they are unaware of recall 
notifications.
   As a mom myself, I know that parents cannot be expected to check the 
CPSC website every time they purchase a product for their families. If 
a company sells a dangerous item, that company should be expected to 
market the recall as aggressively as they marketed the sale of the 
product.
   That is why I am introducing the Total Recall Act, legislation which 
will implement much needed reforms to increase the effectiveness of 
products recalled by the CPSC. This bill will increase requirements for 
companies to post recall notices on their websites and social media, 
and require or encourage companies to use parts of the original 
marketing budgets of the product in question on notifying consumers of 
the recall.
  The numbers don't lie; if consumers are not participating in recalls, 
then companies need to work harder to let their consumers know about 
any dangers that they face from continued use of these products. 
Companies know how to market products, it is time for them to apply 
those same skills to marketing recalls.

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