House Proceeding on Oct 9th, 2007 :: 0:00:03 to 0:03:22
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0:00:03 to 0:00:20( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: floor, we feel this the ones that most straightforward and obviously we support and we speak in favor of it. my colleagues, you go back to 1972, the house passed the consumer product safety act.

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Speech By: Cliff Stearns

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Cliff Stearns: at that time the penalty was simply $500,000. now, let's leap ahead, adjust it for inflation, what is that equivalent in today's dollars? about $2.5 million. however, the original penalty maximum

0:00:36 to 0:00:51( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: in the cpsa was not indexed to inflation. so $500,000 as the years went back up to 1990 was a pretty poultry amount over this period of time. and then in 1990, it was indexed to inflation, so it is

0:00:51 to 0:01:06( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: a current civil maximum is $1.825 million. the chairman indicates that that is a small incentive for companies out there. i submit that the penalty is not the big problem for thes can, it's the

0:01:06 to 0:01:16( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: bad p.r. if you're a wal-mart and you have a product that's defective or you're a toy manfacturer, the penalty's going to be a deterrent, you about the big deterrent is that you won't be able to sell

0:01:16 to 0:01:29( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: that product after the product is recalled and everybody knows that your company is manufacturing a defective product. i support the ability of the consumer product safety commission to penalize

0:01:29 to 0:01:41( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: those who willfully -- willfully violate the act. at the same time we're not sure if the effect of an increase in potential penalties to as much as $10 million, will have the desired effect.

0:01:41 to 0:01:58( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: i can support this measure, however, because there's three key factors when you look at this bill. first, the increase in the penalty maximum will be phased in, thankso the chairman and

0:01:58 to 0:02:14( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: his staff and our staff for working together. two, this measure amends a cpsa to include specific penalty assessment factors. and, three, the measure directs the cpsc to prom gate rules and

0:02:14 to 0:02:30( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: delineates how the commission will assess the fines. my colleagues, this last factor, in particular, is important to our business community. interpretative rules are necessary to provide guidance,

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Cliff Stearns: clarity and some pro dict ability to regulate industries. interpretative guidelines will provide a constant framework within which the cpsc may act. $10 million isoo great of an amount to not act responsibly.

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Cliff Stearns: i agree with the chairman. that is a deterrent. and consistently in imposing such fines is important. but, again, i point out that the larger deterrent for corporation sincere the fact that the --

0:02:55 to 0:03:07( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: corporations is thcoe fact that the publicity will be damaging to their sale of future products. i would commend the chairman for his leadership in updating the cpsc and his staff working

0:03:07 to 0:03:22( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: with us to create i think a bipartisan work product that all of us, democrats and republicans can support. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois.

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mr. rush: mr. speaker this, again, is another example of commonsense legislation, bipartisan cooperation that's aimed at improving and enhancing the flow of commerce between consumers, manufacturers.