Of the emails I sent out to my representatives on the federal level about CPSIA, Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s response took the longest — but she got it right! Her response, whether or not it was written by a staffer, actually addressed the topic I was concerned about. She acknowledged my concerns and pointed to further resources. I’ve copied the email below:

Dear Ms. Bram:

Thank you for writing to me about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). I appreciate knowing of your views on this matter.

The CPSIA strengthens the consumer protection laws by making it illegal to sell or distribute children’s products containing an unsafe amount of lead after February 10, 2009.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)is the federal agency in charge of enforcing American consumer safety standards. The Commission has recently announced their intention to interpret the law to mean that all products marketed towards children with an unsafe amount of lead would be banned on February 10th no matter when they were manufactured.

I have heard from many small toy stores and secondhand stores fearful that this deadline will have dire consequences for the health of their businesses. I have also heard from many Marylanders about what this deadline will mean for the health of their families. In response, I contacted the CPSC on your behalf. You may also be interested in mailing your comments directly to the CPSC:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814

One of my priorities is to make sure that families and children are protected. Parents have enough to think about these days. They shouldn’t have to worry about whether a child’s new toy is going to make him or her sick.

Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

While I would have liked to hear that Mikulski agreed with my point of view, I know that isn’t always the case and I appreciate the fact that her office was able to write a letter that at least addressed both sides of the issue.

There may have been a bit of a reprieve on the CPSIA front, but I continue to be less than impressed with my representatives’ responses to my letters. Despite having emailed Sen. Ben Cardin several months ago and explaining quite specifically what I was writing about, I got another incorrect form email. In this case, whatever staffer is in charge of Cardin’s email thought I was concerned about a piece of impending tax legislation:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the tax system. I appreciate hearing from you.

The 110th Congressional Session adjourned in January, and as a result all of the pending legislation expired. These issues remain relevant and will likely be re-introduced in the next session for consideration. Rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind for the next Congressional Session.

You might also be interested in visiting my website at http://cardin.senate.gov/, where you will find information about my views on a wide range of issues. In addition, there are links to press releases, testimony, and articles I have written, and you can sign up to receive my periodic e-newsletter.

Thank you again. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about any other issue of concern to you.

Is it really so impossible for a staffer to at least send me a relevant form email?