Learning Resource is advocating and organizing a rally, which is expected to take place in the morning of April 1 from 10-11:30 AM. The location is expected to be the Congressional Visitors Center. The precise location will be confirmed shortly. The afternoon will feature visits to Capitol Hill to see members of Congress to lobby on amending the CPSIA.

 

      They have established a special website for this event, www.AmendTheCPSIA.com and are creating it now and expect it to go live in a few days. The website is expected to be full of useful content, as well as information about the Rally and events of the day.

 

      Rick Woldenberg, chairman of the US maker said in his blog that, implementation of the CPSIA is following a worst-case scenario for manufacturers, retailers and charities. Thanks to the flaws in this law, millions of perfectly safe products are in the process of being destroyed, costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars in the midst of one of the worst economic crises in U.S. history.

 

      He also indicated that, from unrealistic compliance deadlines that made it impossible for industry or the CPSC to adequately prepare before the law went into effect, to the unprecedented decision to retroactively apply the new lead standards and phthalates ban to inventory already sitting in stores and warehouses, CPSIA is causing massive disruptions to industries across the board, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.

 

      He further noted that, so far, Congress has ignored the calls of thousands of small businesses, charities, parents and teachers to fix the flaws in this legislation, refusing even to hold public hearings on the problem. That’s why business and charitable groups are organizing a fly in.

 

Speakers will include Members of Congress and representatives from:

 

· Charitable Organizations

· National Association of Manufacturers

· Small Business owners from various industries affected by CPSIA

· Motorcycle and ATV dealerships

· Publishers and Library Associations

· Product safety and lead experts (to discuss science-based risk assessment)

 

Confirmed Participating Organizations (as of March 16, 2009)):

· Alliance for Children’s Product Safety

· American Apparel and Footwear Association

· American Motorcycle Association

· Fashion Jewelry Trade Association;

· Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association

· Handmade Toy Alliance

· International Sleep Products Association

· Motorcycle Industry Council

· National Association of Manufacturers

· National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops

· National Bulk Vendors Association

· Specialty Vehicle Institute of America

· Toy Industry Association