[Libs-Or] Fwd: [fllan] ACTION NEEDED: Please Ask Your Representatives to Co-Sponsor H.R. 1692

[Diedre Conkling]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin K. Murphy <kmurphy at alawash.org>
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Subject: [fllan] ACTION NEEDED: Please Ask Your Representatives to
Co-Sponsor H.R. 1692
To: fllan at ala.org


 Dear FLLAN members,

As you know, Congress passed legislation titled “The Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008” last August.  This legislation seeks to decrease
the levels of lead and phthalates in products intended for children 12 years
of age or younger and will be enforced by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC).   This legislation was misinterpreted by the CPSC to
include books.

Thankfully, U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) recently
introduced legislation to amend the CPSIA to exempt ordinary books from the
lead limits within the bill.  This legislation specifically exempts books
and would ensure that children continue to have access to safe, educational
and entertaining reading materials.  Mr. Fortenberry cannot do this alone,
and he needs our help to ensure that his colleagues understand books are
indeed a safe product, but our children’s access to them is threatened
because of the CPSC’s current interpretation.



*Action Needed: *In order to gain the attention this legislation deserves,
please call or write your Representatives and ask them to cosponsor H.R.
1692.

Time is of the essence; we have less than 11 months before the new
implementation date arrives, and it is critical that we convince as many
Members as possible to sign onto this legislation.  Without our advocacy,
this legislation will not move forward!


*Background:*
Currently, books are considered an unregulated product.  This means they are
generally considered safe and are not subject to the same rules and
regulations as toys and other objects on the U.S. market.  Under the new
interpretation of the CPSIA, books would be subject to the same testing
standards as children’s toys and clothing.

Very few recalls have actually involved books; in fact, the recalls
surrounding books have not happened because of the books themselves but
rather the toys that were attached to the books that were considered
potential choking hazards.  In spite of this information, the standard
hardcover and paperback books would be subject to the same testing standards
as children’s toys under the new legislation.

As a result, publishers have tested the components of books and found that
the levels of lead in children’s books were far below the future legal
requirements at the full implementation of the regulations three years from
now.  However, the advisory opinion from the CPSC says that not only must
the testing be done by one of their certified labs but that this legislation
also is retroactive, and every book currently in use must be tested.  This
situation will become even more complicated because the CPSC has not
certified any labs to administer the lead testing.

At this point, the CPSC has issued a one-year stay in implementation –
meaning, the legislation will not be implemented until February 10, 2010.
However, the CPSC has indicated that they will not permanently exclude books
without some sort of clear Congressional action.





*Talking points on H.R. 1692:*

   - Though the CPSC has interpreted the act to include ordinary books,
   Congress did not intend for them to be included.
   - This legislation would exempt ordinary books only – books that are
   published on paper of cardboard, printed by conventional publishing methods,
   intended to be read, and lacking inherent play value.
   - Testing has shown that finished books and their component materials
   contain total lead content at levels considered non-detectable
   - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that there
   is little risk to children from lead in ordinary books.
   - Libraries are grateful for this bill since it is proven that reading
   books is critical to child development, and libraries would like to continue
   to provide this service without the threat of regulation that would
   unnecessary and expensive testing.



As always, please let me know if you have any questions.



Kristin Murphy

Government Relations Specialist

American Library Association - Washington Office

1615 New Hampshire Ave. NW, First Floor

Washington, D.C., 20009-2520

Phone Number: 202.628.8410

kmurphy at alawash.org



Questions about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act?  Go to
www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus







-- 
Diedre Conkling
diedre08 at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20090325/8f7ea615/attachment.html>