CPSC International Programs staff would move towards virtual training of foreign companies under the FY2025 Operating Plan commissioners approved 5-0 November 6. That plan was in an amendment from Commissioner Richard Trumka. It passed 3-2, opposed by Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric and Commissioner Mary Boyle.
The former warned that in-person training best ensures companies learn to comply with agency requirements, and he worried that related removal of $88,000 from the office would add to its already occurring budget cuts. An add-on amendment from Boyle failed 2-3. It would have reallocated the $88,000 to the Compliance Office for balanced accounting. The overall amendment also has language favoring virtual work on voluntary standards.
Eleven other amendments to the plan involved:
- State AGs: From Commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak, this change directs staff to create a plan for working with state attorneys general under CPSA Section 24. Compliance Director Robert Kaye spoke of the possibility of at least a webpage to distribute information on Section 24 and related materials. The amendment passed 5-0.
- Translations: Two amendments both passed 5-0. The one by Feldman and Dziak sought a plan for firms to pay to translate recalls rather than CPSC. The one by Boyle called for a pilot program to translate recalls and unilaterals via artificial intelligence.
- E-Commerce: Staff would continue work on assessing compliance and related matters for products sold online. From Feldman and Dziak, the amendment passed 5-0.
- Financial Hardship: The amendment from Feldman and Dziak would move CPSC towards requiring that companies demonstrate such claims regarding refunds, civil penalties, and similar costs. It passed 5-0.
- Tribal Relations: Passing 5-0, the amendment from Feldman and Dziak sought ways for voluntary CPSC compliance with a 2000 executive order (13175) on working with indigenous populations.
- Infant Sleep: This amendment from Trumka passed 5-0 and directed a study on product hazards.
- Recalls: Trumka got support from Dziak and Feldman in 3-2 approval that staff set a higher goal for opens of announcement emails. Hoehn-Saric worried about removing non-openers to improve metrics. Boyle criticized commission micromanaging staff.
- Voluntary Standards: Trumka again had the support of Dziak and Feldman in the 3-2 vote for a higher goal (20) for finalized standards. Hoehn-Saric suggested the prior number reflected reality under constrained resources.
- Midyear: Boyle got 5-0 approval of language formalizing that there will be a midyear review regardless of eventual funding and to address unexecuted money.
- Offices: Hoehn-Saric got 5-0 approval of editorial tweaks to reflect recent organizational changes at CPSC.
A written statement by Feldman and Dziak is at bit.ly/3YLNJmq. Wording of their amendments is at bit.ly/3YyBLfE.
