CPSC Amendment Knocked Back, but It's Not Gone Yet

Congressman Ed Markey is attempting to offer an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission reauthorization bill (H.R. 4040) which would bring fixed-site amusement rides under the jurisdiction of the CPSC. CPSC authorization of fixed-site rides is unnecessary, ineffective, and costly.

Congressman Markey's amendment was not considered during the mark-up of H.R. 4040 Thursday by Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, but the issue is not over. The full Energy and Commerce Committee will consider the bill in early December.

Amusement rides are already one of the safest forms of entertainment available, so adding an additional layer of redundant regulation is absolutely unnecessary. Maintaining a safe facility is at the core of our business. Not only do we hold ourselves to high standards, but we must meet the standards of our insurers, adhere to ASTM standards, and we are regulated by state officials.

The CPSC is an important agency, but it is starved for resources. Adding amusement parks to their jurisdiction will only dilute their already limited resources and could jeopardize the current successful state-level regulatory scheme.

Please visit the IAAPA Grassroots Action Center to contact members of the House Energy and Commerce committee and express your opposition to the Markey amendment to the CPSC reauthorization bill. Tell them to let the CPSC focus its financial and staff resources on the areas where it has expertise: the more than 15,000 consumer products it is currently responsible for regulating.

For more information, please email me at sthienel@IAAPA.org.