Update: The Senate Passes the CPSC Reform Bill (S. 2663)--

Some good news, but don't hold your breath yet--

The CPSC reform bill (S. 2663) has passed the Senate, and now heads to conference committee where the differences between the house and senate versions will be worked out.

Let's hope the differences being "worked out" will not involve the watering down of the important provisions of this bill. Essentially, this bill in its current state would markedly strengthen the CPSC, increase penalties for violating companies, ban lead in all children's products (like bibs!) and not just toys , and would require that toys be tested by independent labs before they are sold. It is about time!

There were some excellent amendments added to the senate version, one that I think Non-Toxic readers will be excited about is from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that ban phthalates in children’s products as of Jan. 1, 2009. See these posts for more information about the health problems associated with phthalates.

Another amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) would ban the importation of toys from companies that have violated CPSC safety standards repeatedly. And Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) added an amendment that would prohibit CPSC members from accepting any travel monies from companies they are regulating.

These seem like common sense, and they should have happened a long time ago, but at least they are in process now, thanks to the above listed senators.

The folks over at Momcrats have a posting that shares the senators who voted against protecting our kids from poisonous toys and children's products. See who they are by clicking here.

Here is a Washington Post article about the bill.

Read about it on U.S. PIRG's website here.

It looks like we will hopefully see a final version of this bill hit the White House this summer. And who wants to be the one who vetoes a critically important safety bill for children?