CPSIA: An open letter to my Congressman

The CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008) is killing business for many of us.  We can make a difference if we make our voices heard.  Following is my letter to the Honorable Kenny Marchant.  Please feel free to copy any part of it in your own message to your representative.  You can look up and contact your representative at Write Your Representative by entering your address and complete zip code.

My letter:
I recently lost my full time job and I supplement my part time income selling handmade arts and crafts, including children's items.  I produce high quality clothing and toys that I use with my own grandchildren.  CPSIA compliance has made it nearly impossible for me to comply and  will put me out of business when fully implemented in 2011.

I am joining many in the handmade community asking for you to bring relief to thousands of small batch children's product makers.  A law intended to stop  the import of shoddy and dangerous products into the US is now threatening the small business owners within our borders.  It also hurts parents by limiting the goods they can buy for their children, my local fabric store by lowering their sales, charity and thrift stores by cutting off their supply...and on and on.

Thanks to the collective voices of American small business and citizens, we were heard by the media and our representatives, and 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 of us from closing our doors.  We need Democrats and  Republicans in Washingon to work together to help American small business owners.

Please take a stand and show your commitment to keeping our businesses alive.  We are  asking the House Commerce Committee that the CPSIA draft bill go to mark up and become open for discussion.  Please help me, and thousands of others, to keep our shops alive.  Please work to pass this important legislation.

Sincerely,
Norma Brock
Texas Eagle Gallery
www.texaseaglegallery.com

p.s.  You will notice my shop has almost no children's items.  They were my biggest sellers up until 2/10/10 when I had to remove them to comply with CPSIA.