Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has introduced legislation to fix a provision in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has stated includes All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles and snowmobiles in the category of “children’s products.”  The legislation, HR 1587, would exempt these products from the lead content requirements enacted by CPSIA. 

“Congress acted swiftly last year to pass legislation with the good intention of protecting our children from harmful lead-tainted toys, legislation which I supported,” Congressman Burgess said.  “Unfortunately, the law’s definition of ‘children’s products’ has been too broadly interpreted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to include youth model all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and snowmobiles.  I do not believe this was the original intent of Congress, and this legislation would fix what I believe is an unintended punishment.”

Predictions show potential losses of up to $1 billion annually in retail economic value for ATV dealers and manufacturers if the law isn’t corrected to exclude these products.  Since the new law was enacted, manufacturers have been forced to hold on to thousands of these products, and sales of related goods – protective gear, accessories, and repair parts and services – have slowed. 

“Each day this ban goes unchanged we continue to unintentionally harm businesses and families who rely on these products,” Congressman Burgess concluded.

Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations.  He is also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.  Prior to becoming a member of Congress in 2002, Congressman Burgess practiced medicine in North Texas for over 25 years.