Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is a good start, but improvements are needed (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison)

Overall, last year’s law is a good one, and it makes many improvements to the agency. As with most new programs, though, there are a few glitches that need to be worked out. While we worked very hard to write a good bill and had the best of intentions, we knew it was not perfect, and unintended consequences of the law have since surfaced. This Committee needs to hold a hearing to discuss implementation of the law and identify significant problems so we can find a solution that will not inflict further harm on the industries and businesses, including small businesses and home crafters, that are already suffering during these tough economic times. Everyone can agree that we want to protect consumers from harmful products, especially children, but an unreasonable law will only be counterproductive.