Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am the author of the third consumer protection bill that we are considering on the House floor this afternoon, H.R. 2474, the Product Safety Civil Penalties Improvement Act, which raises the cap on civil penalties that the Consumer Product Safety Commission can impose from $1.83 million to $10 million. Furthermore, the new cap will be phased in through two steps. It rises to $5 million as soon as the CPSC issues its new interpretive guidelines or one year after reenactment, whichever occurs first. Mr. Speaker, the cap will subsequently rise to its full $10 million one year after this initial increase. This new cap figure and two-step process is the product of careful negotiations and compromise with the minority. Furthermore, the bill, as amended in this subcommittee, renders the factors used in assessing the amount of penalties more expansive and flexible, and it further makes clear that the current list of factors is not exclusive. This flexibility will allow the commission to take into account factors such as whether the manufacturer is a recidivist or a first-time offender when imposing these civil penalties. In this regard CPSC is required to promulgate interpretive rules on these penalty factors within 360 days. Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 2474 is badly needed. For too long the CPSC has only been able to slap violators on the wrist with a puny civil penalties cap of $1.8 million.”