Letter to my congress man

From: Jenny McGurk
4901 Basset Richmond va 23225

To: Robert C.Scott

Re: Changes needed to the Consumer Product Improvement Act (CPSIA) to Save Handmade Toys in the USA

Dear Mr.Scott,

Like many people, I was deeply concerned by the dangerous and poisonous toys that large Chinese toy manufacturers have been selling to our nations families. And, I was very pleased that Congress acted quickly to protect America's children by enacting the CPSIA.

However, I am very concerned that the CPSIA's mandates for third party testing and labeling will have a dramatic and negative effect on small toymakers and in the USA, Canada, and Europe, whose toy safety record has always been exemplary. It will also devastate small manufacturers of children's clothes and other handmade goods for children.

Because of the fees charged by Third Party testing companies, many manufacturers, especially makers of beautiful wooden toys and unique children's clothes from Maine to Oregon will be driven out of business. Their cottage workshops simply do not make enough money to afford the $4,000 price tag per toy that Third Party testers are charging.

I urge you to quickly request the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make some very reasonable exclusions in their interpretation of the law as they continue their rulemaking process. For example, manufacturers should be able to rely on testing done by their materials suppliers instead of paying for redundant unit-based testing. I would also like to see an exemption to third party testing requirements for micro-businesses similar to the exemptions granted by the FDA for small producers under the food labeling laws.

If you feel that testing should still be required, then the CPSC should be made to offer free testing services for small manufacturers.

These toy makers and crafters have earned and kept the public's trust. They provide jobs for hundreds and quality playthings for thousands. Their unique businesses should be protected. Please visit www.handmadetoyalliance.org to learn more about this issue.

In addition I own a small fabric store in the city of Richmond, many of my customers make and sell baby clothes, and toys as well as my myself. If these laws are passed I will most likely lose many of these customers, including the revenue I earn from making and selling cloth diapers, and children's clothes. With the current state of our nations economy this could be devastating to my business, and potentially cause me to close my doors
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Jenny McGurk Owner fleur fabrics 119 N Robinson St RVA 23220 612 9198

go to this site. to find your congress man and send your letter TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!!!