CPSIA - April 1 Rally UPDATE

I have reproduced the latest version of our Fact Sheet for the April 1 Rally below for your information. A few supplemental bits of info:

a. The Rally 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.

TO PARTICIPATE IN A VISIT TO CAPITOL HILL, WE WILL NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, AS WELL AS YOUR ZIP CODE (NINE DIGITS IS BEST). Please email us at AprilRally@AmendTheCPSIA.com with this info ASAP. Thanks. We will then get back to you with details. It will be very helpful to know in advance how many people we should expect at the Rally.

b. We have established a special website for this event, www.AmendTheCPSIA.com. We 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. We will also use the website to allow those of you who want to participate but cannot attend in person. I hope we will be able to announce some nifty democracy-in-action technology soon!

c. The best way to communicate with us is via email at AprilRally@AmendTheCPSIA.com. We are interested in hearing from you and getting your ideas. Please support us by attending the Rally!

This is a fluid situation, please watch this space for updates. I expect to be able to make some announcements about special guests and speakers soon.

Thanks.

Rick

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OVERKILL: HOW THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT IS DAMAGING AMERICAN BUSINESSES

FLY-IN, RALLY AND CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
TO FIX FLAWS IN NEW PRODUCT SAFETY LAW

Washington, DC - April 1, 2009

Implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (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. Charitable organizations and thrift stores are being forced to pull inventory from their shelves at a time when American families need them more than ever. The supply of science supplies to schools is being curtailed. Youth model ATV and dirt bikes are no longer available creating a safety issue because more than 90% of injuries to kids on ATVs occur on large adult size models. Even libraries are at risk of legal liability for lending children’s books. All of these violations of common sense are being done in the name of “safety”.

From unrealistic compliance deadlines that made it impossible for industry or the Consumer Product Safety Commission 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.

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, rally and Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress, provide information and bring attention to the CPSIA crisis. Wide participation is anticipated in this unique event to call upon Congress to urgently fix the CPSIA.

Date and Location: April 1, 2009, Capitol Hill [Room TBD]

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

For additional information, please contact the Alliance for Children's Product Safety at 202-828-7637