The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reauthorization Act, HR 4040.

AHAM supports an increase in funding to enhance CPSC’s personnel dedicated to product testing, evaluation and enforcement and to improved technology and facilities.

"This bi-partisan effort culminated in a very tough but balanced bill.  AHAM appreciates the opportunity to work closely with House Commerce Committee members and staff and hopes that the United States Senate will follow suit with a bipartisan product.  We have supported reauthorization, enhanced authority and greater resources for CPSC,” said Joseph M. McGuire, AHAM President.  “There are provisions in HR 4040 which are unnecessary and will be burdensome on business but we want to move forward with CPSC on strengthening supply chain safety to protect consumers."

McGuire testified before the House and Senate on product safety legislation on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) coalition on product safety.

HR 4040 would greatly increase CPSC authorized spending levels, renovate the antiquated CPSC laboratory and add to the federal law increased penalties, CPSC recall authority and an enhanced role for state attorneys general.  AHAM efforts were successful in maintaining federal preemption, preventing states from separately enforcing the federal safety laws, maintaining due process in CPSC procedures and protecting manufacturer submitted information from premature disclosure.