The fight still isn’t over yet to protect small batch manufacturers and retailers from CPSIA! It’s time to reignite the fires that have been simmering and to get on the phones and email to make a difference. This week the Handmade Toy Alliance has issued a Call To Action to get bipartisan efforts to pass the CPSEA bill that seems to now have been stalled.

The CPSEA bill while not perfect…does move in a direction to protect small batch producers. This bill is currently a draft to modify the original CPSIA. The Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act (CPSEA) needs to be brought to Congress so it can be discussed and voted upon. Right now it seems it has stalled and the committees need to be reminded just how much the CPSIA has hurt small businesses and how it STILL needs to be modified.

Please take the time to make a call or send an email. We need to get this draft to a bill. SO many manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are depending on this!

HTA’S Call to Action!

(copied here from CPSIA Blog)

Republicans and Democrats disagree on CPSIA amendment that would offer relief to thousands of small batch children’s product makers Will small batch makers and specialty retailers of children’s products survive the CPSIA? This has always been the question, as from the beginning, this law has left us suddenly on the verge of extinction. Eighteen months of hard work has resulted at least in recognition of the fact that our preservation was not considered when this law was passed. However, we are still very much endangered, and action is needed now more than ever.

Thanks to the collective voices of American small businesses and citizens, we were heard by the media and our representatives, and could not be ignored. Once again, we must raise our voices, to prevent handmade children’s products from becoming a casualty of Washington’s inner partisan disagreements.

Recently a bill was introduced by the Department of Energy and Commerce, to amend the CPSIA, offering important relief to thousands of small batch business owners. This relief would prevent many from closing their doors. Democrats and Republicans in Washington cannot see eye to eye on the need for the proposed agreement.

We need to tell our representatives today that it is time to take a stand, and show their commitment to keeping our businesses alive. We at the Handmade Toy Alliance urge you to call your representative in the House Commerce Committee and ask for the CPSIA draft bill to go to mark up and become open for discussion. We have been told time and time again, that we must call, call, and call if we are to be heard. The combined power of our voices is what it will take to keep small batch children’s products from becoming a distant memory in America. Please help! Contact the Minority side at 202-225-3641, and Majority side at 202-225-2927. You are likely to get an answering machine. Leave your name, city, state, House Representatives name and share that they must work together openly in committee to bring about an amendment to the CPSIA now.