[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 203 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H10294-H10295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SAFE SLEEP FOR BABIES ACT OF 2019

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3172) to prohibit the manufacture for sale, offer for sale, 
distribution in commerce, or importation into the United States of any 
inclined sleeper for infants, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3172

       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 ``Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 
     2019''.

     SEC. 2. BANNING OF INCLINED SLEEPERS FOR INFANTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, inclined sleepers for infants, 
     regardless of the date of manufacture, shall be considered a 
     banned hazardous product under section 8 of the Consumer 
     Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2057).
       (b) Inclined Sleeper for Infants Defined.--In this section, 
     the term ``inclined sleeper for infants'' means a product 
     with an inclined sleep surface greater than ten degrees that 
     is intended, marketed, or designed to provide sleeping 
     accommodations for an infant up to one year old.

     SEC. 3. BANNING OF CRIB BUMPERS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, crib bumpers, regardless of the date 
     of manufacture, shall be considered a banned hazardous 
     product under section 8 of the Consumer Product Safety Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 2057).
       (b) Crib Bumper Defined.--In this section, the term ``crib 
     bumper''--
       (1) means any material that is intended to cover the sides 
     of a crib to prevent injury to any crib occupant from impacts 
     against the side of a crib or to prevent partial or complete 
     access to any openings in the sides of a crib to prevent a 
     crib occupant from getting any part of the body entrapped in 
     any opening;
       (2) includes a padded crib bumper, a supported and 
     unsupported vinyl bumper guard, and vertical crib slat 
     covers; and
       (3) does not include a non-padded mesh crib liner.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3172, the Safe Sleep 
for Babies Act of 2019. This legislation combines a bill that was 
introduced by Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Vice Chair 
Tony Cardenas, which bans inclined sleepers that have been associated 
with many infant deaths, with a bill that I introduced, the Safe Cribs 
Act, which bans crib bumpers that have led to suffocation deaths of 
infants. I introduced this legislation with my friends and colleagues 
from Illinois, Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congressman   Bobby Rush.
  For years, pediatricians have provided very clear recommendations for 
keeping babies safe while they sleep. Babies should only sleep on a 
firm, flat surface, free of any extra soft bedding. Infant inclined 
sleepers and crib bumpers are two products that contradict these 
longstanding recommendations of physicians.
  Infant inclined sleepers, like the Fisher-Price Rock `n Play, 
position babies for sleep on a dangerous incline. The inclined nature 
of these products goes directly against the guidance of pediatricians 
and medical experts.
  In April of this year, the public learned just how deadly they are: 
At least 32 babies have died in the Fisher-Price Rock `n Play since 
they were first introduced 10 years ago, in 2009. According to the 
latest figures, at least 73 babies have died in similar products like 
the Rock `n Play.
  With the ensuing outrage, the Consumer Product Safety Commission took 
some action, recalling over 5 million infant inclined sleepers. And 
thanks to pressure by Consumer Reports and Members of Congress, 
including Representative Cardenas and myself, some retailers, including 
Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Buy Buy Baby, have recently announced plans 
to stop selling these products.
  However, too many new or used inclined sleepers remain for sale on 
shelves and online. This class of product needs to be banned, and many 
children would still be alive if they had never been sold.
  Crib bumpers also remain widely used by parents and caretakers, 
despite safe sleep recommendations that ``bare is best'' and that any 
kind of soft bedding in a crib creates an unnecessary suffocation 
danger.
  That is, and the reason that they are so available is, because crib 
bumpers are featured on displays in stores, on baby registry 
checklists, and bundled as part of infant bedding sets.
  These products, parents and caregivers are told, prevent babies from 
bumping their heads or getting their arms or legs caught in the crib 
rails. But these products are unnecessary. Worse than unnecessary, they 
can be deadly. More than 100 babies have died because of crib bumpers 
since 1990.
  Consumers trust that the products that they see on the store shelves 
are safe. They think that products wouldn't be sold if they were so 
dangerous.
  We must take these dangerous products off the shelf now. No family 
should have to experience the heartache and the tragedy of losing a 
baby in an unsafe sleep product.
  The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 will save babies' lives.
  I want to thank Congressman Cardenas for his leadership, and I call 
on all of my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3172, the Safe Sleep for 
Babies Act.
  H.R. 3172 addresses the risk of suffocation that infants face related 
to inclined sleepers. It bans all products with an inclined sleep 
surface greater than 10 degrees to address tragic deaths related to 
inclined sleepers. It also addresses the risk of suffocation infants 
face related to padded crib bumpers.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardenas) for 
his work on this bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure, the Safe Sleep for 
Babies Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of our subcommittee, the Consumer 
Protection and Commerce Subcommittee in the Energy and Commerce 
Committee, for really saving lives.
  If we pass this legislation, we will stop hazards that are known to 
cause deaths of children in their beds by parents who have trusted that 
these products, because they are on the shelf, are safe.
  These bumpers and these inclined sleepers are proven killers, so this 
legislation will make these nurseries, these places where we put our 
precious babies to bed, much safer.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from 20 national 
organizations and more than 50 State and local organizations 
representing pediatricians and consumers throughout the United States, 
including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Federation of 
America, Consumer Reports, Kids in Danger, among many others, urging 
strong support from Members for the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.

                                               September 11, 2019.
       Dear Representative: As organizations dedicated to 
     children's health and safety, we write to express our strong 
     support for three bills as they move to the House floor. 
     These bills would improve protections against preventable 
     sleep-related deaths, as well as injuries and deaths from 
     preventable furniture tip-overs. We urge you to support these 
     bills to protect children from injuries and deaths.
       The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 (H.R. 3172) would ban 
     infant inclined sleep products, such as the recently recalled 
     Fisher-

[[Page H10295]]

     Price Rock `n Play Sleeper, which have been linked to the 
     deaths of at least 50 infants. While there have been four 
     recent recalls related to this product type, similar unsafe 
     products of this type remain on the market. These products 
     are deadly, and their design is inherently unsafe and 
     incompatible with expert safe sleep recommendations, 
     including from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This 
     legislation would help prevent more families from 
     experiencing the tragedy of losing a child by banning the 
     products' manufacture, import, and sale.
       The Safe Cribs Act of 2019 (H.R. 3170) would ban crib 
     bumper pads. Bumper pads have led to dozens of infant 
     suffocation deaths and do not offer protection to babies. 
     These products are also inconsistent with expert safe sleep 
     recommendations. Maryland, Ohio, New York State, Chicago, 
     Illinois, and Watchung, New Jersey have taken action to 
     protect babies. If H.R. 3170 becomes law, all babies in the 
     Unites States would be similarly protected. This legislation 
     would help prevent more families from experiencing the 
     tragedy of losing a child to crib bumper pads by banning 
     their manufacture, import, and sale altogether.
       The STURDY Act (H.R. 2211) would direct the U.S. Consumer 
     Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a mandatory 
     clothing storage unit standard to help prevent furniture tip-
     overs. According to the CPSC, one child dies every ten days 
     from a tip-over. Stronger product testing and safety 
     requirements could prevent these fatalities. This bill is 
     critically important because it would establish a strong 
     mandatory standard for furniture stability. The STURDY Act 
     would require the CPSC to create a mandatory rule that would: 
     cover all clothing storage units, including those 30 inches 
     in height or shorter; require testing to simulate the weights 
     of children up to 72 months old; require testing measures to 
     account for scenarios involving carpeting, loaded drawers, 
     multiple open drawers, and the dynamic force of a climbing 
     child; mandate strong warning requirements; and require the 
     CPSC to issue the mandatory standard within one year of 
     enactment. To protect children from furniture tip-overs, we 
     need a strong mandatory standard and the STURDY Act includes 
     those critically needed provisions.
       These bills offer a vital opportunity to protect children 
     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.
                                                        Sincerely,


                         National Organizations

       American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Maternal & 
     Child Health Programs, Center for Justice & Democracy, Child 
     Care Aware of America, Child Injury Prevention Alliance, 
     Children's Advocacy Institute, Consumer Federation of 
     America, Consumer Reports, Cribs for Kids, Inc., First Focus 
     Campaign for Children, Keeping Babies Safe, Kids In Danger, 
     MomsRising, National Association of Pediatric Nurse 
     Practitioners, National Consumers League, Parents for Window 
     Blind Safety, Public Citizen, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe 
     States Alliance, The Society for Advancement of Violence and 
     Injury Research (SAVIR).


                     State and Local Organizations

       Alaska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 
     Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AkPIRG), American 
     Academy of Pediatrics--Arizona Chapter, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics--California Chapter 3, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics--Hawaii Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics 
     Georgia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York 
     Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics New York Chapter 2, 
     American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 3, American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Vermont Chapter, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Colorado Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, 
     Orange County Chapter, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's 
     Hospital of Chicago, Arkansas Chapter, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics California Chapter 1, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Children's Health 
     Alliance of Wisconsin, Consumer Assistance Council, Inc., 
     Consumer Assistance Council, Inc., DC Chapter of the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Delaware Chapter of the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Empire State Consumer Project.
       Florida Chapter--American Academy of Pediatrics, Idaho 
     Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois 
     Action for Children, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy 
     of Pediatrics, Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Island Pediatrics of Honolulu, Kentucky Chapter 
     of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Louisiana Chapter of 
     the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter, American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland Chapter, American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, Michigan Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, 
     Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 
     Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 
     Nevada Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, New 
     Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, New Mexico 
     Pediatric Society, North Carolina Pediatric Society, Ohio 
     Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, OHSU/Doernbecher Tom 
     Sargent Safety Center, Oklahoma Chapter of the American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Pennsylvania 
     Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, South Dakota 
     Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Sudden Infant 
     Death Services of Illinois, Inc., Tennessee Chapter of the 
     American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Chapter, American 
     Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, 
     Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Wisconsin Chapter of the 
     American Academy of Pediatrics, Wyckoff Hospital, Wyoming 
     Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  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. 3172, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to provide 
that inclined sleepers for infants and crib bumpers shall be considered 
banned hazardous products under section 8 of the Consumer Product 
Safety Act, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________