Hank Johnson: “The Jackson Lee amendment exempts from this bill's onerous requirements the congressional approval requirement of any…”

“The Jackson Lee amendment exempts from this bill's onerous requirements the congressional approval requirement of any proposed rule that is made to ensure the safety of products that are used or consumed by children under the age of 2. This amendment should pass for obvious reasons. If protecting public health and safety means anything, it surely must include the protection of our children. Because of the special vulnerability of young children, any regulation affecting their health and safety must not be delayed. Unfortunately, if this bill passes as written without this amendment, that is exactly what will happen. The young children will be vulnerable to products that are unsafe and that could hurt them. For this reason, Sheila Jackson Lee has offered this amendment, which I support. An example is a regulation that is meant to protect a child from death or injury from contaminated formula. Such a rule would be impeded--or the promulgation of such a rule and the enactment of that rule would be impeded--by this administration. This amendment would declare that, in that case, the rule would not apply. It would be exempted from this legislation. Toxic chemicals, dangerous toys, or deadly falls from unsafe products could be avoided. Therefore, this amendment would protect children under those circumstances. Those kinds of rules need to be implemented promptly to save lives. For that reason, the Jackson Lee amendment deserves your support.…”