Thank you for co-sponsoring and supporting the HR 1861 bill, the Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act, directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue regulations concerning the safety and labeling of certain furniture and electronic appliances. I understand that children cannot be protected from every danger the world presents, but this bill certainly has the potential to inform parents and others about one danger that can be minimized with the relevant knowledge about how to secure heavy furniture and electronic appliances to the wall.

As you know, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 people, mostly children, are injured each year from furniture tipping accidents, and 6 people, again mostly young children, die each year. Two young children have died in the Madison, Wisconsin area, and one young child in Oshkosh, Wisconsin over the past 15 months. A three year old of Waunakee, Wisconsin was killed in December 2004 when his dresser tipped over on top of him. On Christmas Day 2005, another three year old child in our area from Mazomanie, Wisconsin died as a result of a furniture tipping accident in which a TV fell off a dresser on top of her. And in January 2006, a four year old from Oshkosh, Wisconsin died when a TV toppled over onto her.

As electronic appliances such as TV's are getting larger, heavier, and more prone to instability, there are sure to be additional accidents claiming young lives. These large televisions can weigh well over 100 pounds. HR 1861 is needed to make mandatory the requirement that furniture and electronic appliance makers include solid safety straps with all new products. These safety straps are currently very difficult to find in retail stores. Including safety straps and warnings with furniture and electronic appliances would not only raise awareness of this issue, but it would also enable people to more easily and immediately install these products in their homes.

I am asking your further commitment to this bill by actively working toward gaining support for the HR 1861 bill from other members of Congress, and more immediately those that belong with you on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection to move this bill forward.