Regarding the new Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act

If you haven't heard about this, please read into it. I am friends with a lot of WAHM (work at home moms) that make wonderful, chemical free, children's items. If this law goes into effect then they will be loosing their income, many which rely heavily on what they bring in. Moms who make hair bows and ribbons, cloth diapers, sew wonderful childrens clothing, knit hats and scarves and mittens, dads and grandpas who carve beautiful wooden toys! Many small businesses that specialize in these types of one of a kind items will also go out of business. Think of craft fairs being policed! And if you have any of these items you can't sell them on Ebay because they will be considered illegal items. Don't think that the government won't be cracking down on the "little people"? They have a special internet unit set up to watch out for sites like Hyena Cart and Etsy that specialize in handmade creations. They are not thinking this law through all the way. The reason this law is being passed is due to the large number of recent toy recalls containg lead and other hazardous chemicals. Note though, NONE of these toys were manufactured in the UNITED STATES. They were all "Made in China." However, the American craftsmen and women are going to suffer for this. Please read the informative article below and do what you can to help ammend this law and save these peoples livelyhoods. Our economy is in the toilet already, imagine what it will be like after Febuary 10th when this law takes hold.

Copied from CoolMomPicks:

We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.
With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.

How to Get Involved -- it only takes 5 minutes of your time!
-Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here.Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or the House Committee on Small Business.
-Send an email directly to the CPSC or contact chairperson Nancy Nord at 301-504-7923
-Vote for amending the law on Change.org, digg style: With enough votes it will be presented to President Obama in January!
-Place the Save Handmade! button on your blog or website to help spread the word to everyone you know who cares about protecting the little guy and preserving beautiful items made with love for our children.
Fantastic Resources
-The Handmade Toy Alliance (check out their proposed changes, a lot of which make a whole lot of sense
-CPSIA Facebook Group
-CPSIA information group on ning
-Z Recommends: Five steps you can take to save natural toys (excellent reading)
-Fashion Incubator
-The Smart Mama
-Etsy business forums (including this specific thread on local media coverage
-Twitter: Search using the #CPSIA hashtag
-Endangered Whimsy - a blog gallery of handmade products endangered by the CPSIA. Feel free to submit yours.
-Video: Handmade Portraits
-Excellent letter from Rick Woldenberg, Chairman of Learning Resources, to CPSC on improvements to the act. Also see the You Tube videos in which he addresses the CPSC panel in November. Well worth a watch. (1 of 3)