I have a lot of links and good stuff for sage reads this week, but it’ll post tomorrow so we can focus on the CPSIA today.

Despite massive crafter and consumer outcry, as well as that of resale and thrift stores and even public libraries, it looks like the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) is going to go into effect, and soon. One of the first lessons you learn when being trained in public policy is to consider the unintended consequences of whatever you are advocating for, since change never happens in a vacuum. With CPSIA, all products intended for children under 12 years of age will be required to have third party testing for lead and phthalates. However, the act does not have any exceptions for items that, by their nature, wouldn’t have even a trace of lead. Like, you know, cute handmade kids’ clothing. Natural wooden toys, library books, and stuffed animals will all require expensive third party testing.

So clearly this is bad news, bad news that isn’t going away.

Etsy as an action kit (PDF) you can download, but I’ll make it easy for you. Call your member of Congress. The Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121, just ask for their office. (If you don’t know who that is, find out.) Don’t worry, they won’t actually answer the phone. An eager 23 year old staffer will, though, so please tell them that you are a constituent — they’ll probably ask for your name and address — and you’d like to see a delay in the implementation of the CPSIA to consider exemptions for one of a kind items and those made with natural materials.

It will take you two minutes or less to do this, and no one really bothers to call Washington about anything, so when a member of Congress gets even five messages about the same issue? They take notice. Why should you believe me? Remember, this is what I actually do for a living!

I’ll get off my soapbox now