GFA PAG Endorses Congressional Candidates

In September, Consumer Federation Miller said. "The continued presence of of America's campaign committee pro-consumer incumbents is essential to issued endorsements of 137 candi- ensure that consumer interests are de- dates in the 1990 congressional elections. fended and consumer protections are In the House of Representatives, CFA en- strengthened. dorsed 109 incumbents and 19 chal- "In addition, we need to see consumer lengers. In the Senate, CFA endorsed seven support strengthened by the addition of incumbents and two challengers. new pro-consumer representatives and Incumbent candidates were evaluated senators from the ranks of these endorsed on the basis of their career voting records challengers," she said. "Only then can we on key consumer issues. build on the successes of the recent past Challengers were chosen from races to protect the health, safety, and pocket- against incumbents with poor consumer books of the American public." voting records and races for open seats. They were judged on the basis of their SENATE positions on important pending consumer issues. DE: Sen. Joseph R. Biden (D) KY: Harvey Slone (D) NC: Harvey Gantt (D) "Voters who attempt to make informed IA: Sen. Tom Harkin (D) MA: Sen. John F. Kerry (D) RI: Sen. Claiborne Pell (D) decisions about the candidates they elect IL: Sen. (D) MI: Sen. Carl Levin (D) WV: Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D) have learned to examine their voting records and their stated positions on key issues of concern to them," said CFA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Legislative Representative Peggy Miller. "These endorsements indicate which AL Faye Baggiano (D-2nd) James Fadely (D-6th) Rep. Major R. Owens (D-12th) candidates consumers can trust to de- AZ Mark Ivey (D-4th) Rep. Frank McCloskey (D-8th) Rep. Stephen J. Solarz (D-13th) fend their need for a safer, sounder finan- CA Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-3rd) MA: Rep. Silvio O. Conte (R-lst) Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-16th) cial system, more corporate responsibility, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-5th) Rep. Barney Frank (D-4th) Rep. Ted Weiss (D-17th) better housing, safer products, a cleaner Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-6th) Rep. Chester G. Atkins (D-5th) Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-19th) environment and more equitable tax laws," Rep. George Miller (D-7th) Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-7th) Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-20th) she said. Rep. Ronald V. Dellums (D-8th) Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy (D-8th) Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-23rd) Endorsed incumbents are those whose Rep. Fortney H. Stark (D-9th) Rep. Joe Moakley (D-9th) Rep. Matthew F. McHugh (D-28th) voting records show them to be: Rep. Don Edwards (D-lOth) Rep. Gerry E. Studds (D-lOth) Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-30th) • consumer protectors in the battles Rep. Tom Lantos (D-llth) Rep. Brian J. Donnelly (D-llth) Rep. John J. LaFalce (D-32nd) to control irresponsible corporate profi- teering, concentration and management; Rep. Leon E. Panetta (D-16th) MD: Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-3rd) Rep. Henry J. Nowak (D-33rd) • champions of financial protection David Bayer (D-22nd) Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-5th) OH: Jack Schira (D-7th) through increased regulations and Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-23rd) Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-7th) Rep. (D-9th) tougher standards over financial agen- Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-24th) Rep. Constance A. Morella (R-8th) Rep. Dennis E. Eckart (D-llth) cies and institutions; Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D-25th) ME: Tom Andrews (D-lst) Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer (D-14th) • advocates of a cleaner, safer environ- Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-26th) MI: Rep. Howard Wolpe (D-3rd) Rep. James Traficant, Jr. (D-17th) ment through more sensible industrial Rep. Mel Levine (D-27th) Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D-7th) Rep. Edward F. Feighan (D-19th) practices and stronger regulatory enforce- Rep. Matthew G. Martinez (D-30th) Rep. David E. Bonior (D-12th) Rep. (D-20th) ment; and Gloria Webb (D-33rd) Rep. Dennis M. Hertel (D-14th) Rep. (D-21st) • defenders of decent, affordable hous- Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-34th) Rep. William D. Ford (D-15th) OR: Jim Smiley (D-2nd) ing for all consumers. Rep. George E. Brown (D-36th) Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-17) Rep. Ron Wyden (D-3rd) Challengers were selected for endorse- Rep. Jim Bates (D-44th) MN: Rep. Bruce F. Vento (D-4th) Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-4th) ment on the basis of their strong commit- CO: Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-lst) Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D-5th) Mike Kopetski (D-5th) ment to a variety of important consumer CT Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly (D-lst) Rep. Gerry Sikorski (D-6th) PA: Rep. Thomas M. Foglietta (D-lst) issues, including: Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-2nd) Rep. James L. Obersi ir (D-8th) Rep. William H. Gray, III (D-2nd) • a safer, sounder financial system; Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd) MO: Rep. Alan Wheat (D-5th) Rep. Robert A. Borski (D-3rd) • control of insurance industry collu- Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) ND: Rep. Bryon Dorgan (D-AL) Rep. Peter H. Kostmayer (D-8th) sion, which results in high prices to con- Toby Moffett (D-5th) NE: Rep. Peter Hoagland (D-2nd) Rep. William J. Coyne (D-14th) sumers, through application of antitrust FL: James Bacchus (D-llth) NH: Joseph Keefe (D-lst) Rep. Doug P. Walgren (D-18th) laws to this industry; NJ: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-3rd) RI: Jack Reed (D-2nd) • stronger watchdog legislation and Rep. Harry A. Johnston (D-14th) funding for the Consumer Product Safe- GA: Rep. John Lewis (D-5th) Rep. Bernard J. Dwyer (D-6th) SD: Rep. Tim Johnson (D-AL) ty Commission to enable that agency to IL: Rep. Charles A. Hayes (D-lst) Rep. Matthew J. Rinaldo (R-7th) TN: Rep. Bob Clement (D-5th) better control unsafe product develop- Rep. George E. Sangmeister (D-4th) Rep. Robert G. Torricelli (D-9th) TX: John Caton (D-26th) ment and sales; and Rep. Sidney R. Yates (D-9th) Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-lOth) UT Rep. Wayne Owens (D-2nd) • a health care system that provides John Cox (D-16th) Marguerite Chandler (D-12th) VA: Jim Moran (D-8th) greater access to decent care for the 37 Rep. (D-17th) Rep. Frank J. Guarini (D-14th) WA: Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-3rd) million Americans who are currently Rep. Richard J. Durbin (D-20th) NY: Rep. George Hochbrueckner (D-lst) Rep. Jim McDermott (D-7th) uninsured. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-21st) Rep. Thomas J. Downey (D-2nd) WI: Rep. Robert Kastenmeier (D-2nd) "The next Congress will determine Rep. (D-22nd) Rep. Robert J. Mrazek (D-3rd) Rep. Gerald D. Kleczka (D-4th) policy on issues of vital concern to con- IN: Rep. Peter J. Visclosky (D-lst) Rep. Floyd H. Flake (D-6th) Rep. Jim Moody (D-5th) sumers, including the structure of our Tim Roemer (D-3rd) Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-7th) Rep. David R. Obey (D-7th) entire financial system and how this coun- Rep. Jill Long (D-4th) Rep. James H. Scheuer (D-8th) WV: Rep. Harley O. Staggers, Jr. (D-2nd) try will approach the information age," Rep. James Jontz (D-5th) Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D-lOth) CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA Page % CFAnews • September /October 1990 Products Implicated In 600,000 Deaths A Year

Consumer products are implicated disease, which kills nearly a million in the deaths of more than 600,000 Americans a year. Americans each year and the in- • The nation's food safety monitoring jury and illness of tens of millions of and testing system suffers from serious others, according to a report released inadequacies. For example, Food and Drug in July by the Coalition for Consumer Administration testing methods can detect Health and Safety. only 41 percent of 73 pesticides that have "The Nation's Health and Safety: A Status been shown to cause cancer in laboratory Report" finds both encouraging and dis- animals but have nonetheless been ap- couraging trends in product-related health proved for use by the Environmental Pro- and safety. tection Agency. It reports, for example, that both motor Between 1985 and 1987, the vehicle and household product deaths, estimated number of deaths and related costs, are on the rise. On attributable to alcohol con- the other hand, it finds a sharp drop in sumption rose from 89,415 smoking and a slight decline in drinking. to 90,991. Consumption imposes tremen- Still, smoking and drinking account for dous costs on society, $130 billion last the large majority of all product-related year alone. On the other hand, per capita deaths. alcohol consumption is at its lowest level "The successes in product-related health Experts presented key findings at a July news conference. From left to right: Sally Clary, since 1970, and the percentage of "occa- and safety demonstrate the importance the Alliance of American Insurers; Patricia Taylor, Center for Science in the Public Interest; sional heavy drinkers" among high school of a coordinated effort by government, M. Arnita Hannon, American Lung Association; Stephen Brobeck, CFA; Mary Ellen Fise, seniors was down to 35 percent in 1988, CFA; Ellen Haas, Public Voice for Food and Health Policy; and Jude Payne, Health consumer, health, and business groups," having reached a high of 41 percent in Insurance Association of America. said CFA Executive Director Stephen 1979 and 1980. Brobeck, who serves as chairman of the • Federal spending on programs to com- coalition. "Federal agencies must take a bat alcohol-related problems nearly dou- leadership role in promoting consumer sumer Product Safety Commission — the by the CPSC, on the other hand, remains bled between fiscal year 1988 and 1990. health and safety." federal agency designated to address these low. The 36-page statistical source book hazards — decreased by nearly 5 per- ..SISS^MA The number of deaths at- fH^flfl Although the rate of increase brings together information on mortality cent. Although the budget did increase ■^^^^ tributable to smoking rose ^^y^ in newly reported AIDS cases and morbidity, economic costs, the causes slightly between 1988 and 1990, it re- %V^^» dramatically between 1975 V^f^M declined slightly during the of health and safety threats, and related mains 50 percent lower in inflation ad- W^^^ and 1985, reaching an esti- 1^1^^ past year, the number of new federal expenditures associated with seven justed dollars than the 1974 budget for mated 390,000 in 1985 and making smok- cases reported increased in every demo- subject areas: motor vehicle safety, home this agency. ing the single greatest cause of premature graphic category. Although homosexual and product safety, indoor air quality, ^^Zfl Recognition of the hazards death and disease in our society. Between and bisexual contact remains the most food safety and nutrition, cigarette con- S posed by indoor air pollu- 1965 and 1987, however, the proportion common vehicle for transmission of the sumption, alcohol consumption, and AIDS. tion is relatively recent, and of adults who smoked declined signifi- AIDS virus, as the disease enters its sec- It is the first annual publication of its few statistics are available. cantly — men by 40 percent and women ond decade, it is spreading faster among kind by the coalition of 37 consumer, However, recent studies, particularly by 21 percent. IV drug users and their sexual partners. public health, and insurer groups. related to secondary tobacco smoke and .atf^jflft A large percentage of Blacks and hispanics are disproportionate- The following are among the major find- radon, clearly indicate that indoor air K^X Americans consume too lit- ly represented in all exposure categories. ings of the report: pollution is a serious health problem. In ■■ WA tie fiber and too much cho- Copies of the report are available for Deaths and economic costs recognition of that fact, the Environmen- ^PB>»^ lesterol, sodium, and dietary $10 from Consumer Federation of from motor vehicle accidents tal Protection Agency has substantially fat — especially saturated fat. This over- America, 1424 16th Street, N.W., Suite | continue to rise, with more increased its funding of indoor air ac- consumption is a key contributing factor 604, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) than 47,000 Americans killed tivities to about $30 million. Spending to the nation's high rate of cardiovascular 387-6121. in 1988 at a cost of $89 billion. More than 15 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities are passengers in light trucks or vans, and this number is increasing. CFA, NICO Urge Auto ^^^0 Between 1987 and 1988, W/tw^m deaths from accidents in the W [%]A home, disabling injuries, and Insurance Price Freeze y/^^^ associated economic costs all rose — deaths from 21,500 to 22,500, With the Persian Gulf crisis causing in insurer costs and the need for rate ould likely be reduced by nearly that injuries from 3.1 to 3.4 million, and costs a dramatic increase in the price reductions. amount, said CFA Research Director Mark from $16.7 to $17.4 billion. During the of oil, the Consumer Federation of "As gasoline prices rise, Americans drive Cooper. "Further, if rising oil prices trig- same period, the budget of the U.S. Con- America and the National Insurance Con- less and that means fewer claims," said ger a recession, as many experts are sumer Organization (NICO) have called Hunter, a former Federal Insurance Ad- predicting, people can be expected to drive for a national 30-day moratorium on auto ministrator. "State regulators must act now even less." insurance rate hikes "until the impact to protect us from overcharges. Absent Lewsi of oil price increases on driving and such action, auto insurance companies Depression Would Trigger related insurer costs are adequately could make windfall profits." CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA assessed." Studies have shown that there is a strong Further Claim Decrease 1424 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 negative correlation between gas prices The correlation of real disposable in- (202) 387-6121 "The Middle East crisis has caused great uncertainty about the near-term availabili- and miles driven. According to a study come to miles driven is even stronger President: Jean Ann ft),v by Resources for the Future, the correla- than the correlation of gas prices to miles Executive Director: Stephen Brobeck ty and cost of gasoline," CFA Executive Legislative Director: Gene Kimmelman Director Stephen Brobeck and NICO Presi- tion ranges from -.10 to -.50. driven. Studies indicate that this correla- Assistant Director: Ann Lower dent J. Robert Hunter wrote in a Septem- Assuming a -.25 correlation, if pump tion is +.9. Research Director: Mark Cooper ber letter to each state insurance com- prices rise 25 percent, then miles driven "So, if inflation and unemployment de- Public Affairs Director: Jack Gillis should fall by nearly six percent. If prices Product Safety Director: Mary Ellen Fise missioner. "What we already know is that press purchasing power, driving will drop Legislative Representative: ftgsy Milter within the past month, pump prices have increase by 50 percent, a distinct possi- even more steeply than from the gas price Legislative Representative: Barbara /toper risen an average of 20 percent and crude bility, driving can be expected to decline effects alone," he said. Product Safety Coordinator: Edith Furst oil prices more than 50 percent." by more than ten percent. Conference Manager: Sheila Meade Since a decline in miles driven means "Given all of these dynamic changes, Administrator: Sarah Gardner As Prices Rise, the potential of windfall profits for auto Secretary: Lydia Grogan fewer accidents — studies show that the Administrative Assistant: Mary Jesukiewicz Accidents Fall correlation of miles driven to accident insurers as a result of these events is Staff Assistant: Miguel Carpio Citing research on the relationship of frequency is over +.9 — the two groups real," Hunter warned. CFAnews Editor: Barbara Roper gasoline prices to driving and insurer predict that "insurer claims will be 4.5 A 30-day moratorium would allow time CFAnews is published eight times a year. Annual subscrip- losses, the two called on all insurance percent lower than their normal trend for clarification of the Middle East situa- tion rate is $25 per year. commissioners to implement a 30-day projections would predict if today's 20 tion and the extent of gasoline hikes, as © Copyright 1990 by Consumer Federation of America. CFA price freeze on auto insurance rates, giv- percent higher prices hold." well as for an assessment of the impact should be credited for all material. All Rights Reserved. ing the commissioners an opportunity If prices rise 25 percent and driving of these hikes on driving and related auto Design ft Typeset by: Design Consultants. Inc. to assess the magnitude of reductions declines nearly six percent, insurer losses insurer costs, he said. CFAnews • September /October 1990 Page 3 House Votes To Reregulate Cable

Just after returning from its August "Reregulation should yield all the same establishes federal and local authority over recess, the House passed on voice benefits that phone companies talk about cable customer service. vote a bill to protect consumers from without the additional ratepayer cost or In order to remove cable's unfair com- unreasonable cable television rates and risk," he said. petitive advantage, the bill requires full open the door to increased competition. Despite the remaining obstacles, the access to cable programming for satellite "This is one of the bigger victories for overwhelming bipartisan support for the dish users at a reasonable price and consumers this year, because it combines measure in the House offers real hope greater access to cable programming for immediate pocketbook protections with for passage this session, with or without potential competitors, such as wireless the promotion of competition to cable a presidential veto. cable and K-band direct broadcast satellite. over the longterm," said CFA Legislative "With the legislative session drawing In addition, the bill directs the FCC to Director Gene Kimmelman. to a close, the real problem now is time," prohibit vertically integrated cable com- In the Senate, a similar bill cleared by Kimmelman said. panies from favoring their affiliates or the Commerce Committee in June is ex- Under the bill passed by the House, discriminating against potential competi- pected to face stiffer opposition when the Federal Communications Commission tors through inappropriate contractual it comes to the floor, in part because year by Congress. would set a maximum fee cable operators arrangements, and it requires cable op- of its stronger limits on vertical integration "Since most telephone wires are not could charge for a basic tier of services erators to lease channels to third parties and exclusive ownership of programming. capable of transmitting video signals, and consisting of the networks, an indepen- at fair and reasonable prices, terms and The Bush Administration has threat- it could cost telephone ratepayers an esti- dent and a PBS station. conditions. ened to veto the reregulation legislation mated $250 billion in rate increases to The bill also contains protections against "Even though this legislation does not if it wins final approval in Congress. The finance a phone company video network unreasonable rates for the most popular address all major consumer concerns administration prefers lifting restrictions by the turn of the century, we believe package of cable services, as well as about the video marketplace, it is a clear on telephone company entry into the cable it is against consumers' interests to pro- regulatory standards and pricing restric- improvement over the 1984 Cable Act business, an approach opposed by con- mote phone company video service at tions for equipment and services essen- and today's unregulated monopoly envi- sumer groups and rejected earlier this this time," Kimmelman said. tial to receive cable programming. It also ronment," Kimmelman said. Bill Attacks Financial Planning Abuses

In a July hearing before the House ner is," Roper said. Telecommunications and Finance Sub- committee, CFA Legislative Representative In order to beef up enforcement of Barbara Roper praised a bill to provide the act, the bill provides for civil penal- uniform regulation of financial planners ties for violations of the act and creates as "a much needed and effective measure a private right of action under the act, to address widespread fraud and abuse enabling those investors who can prove in this industry." financial harm as a result of their ad- viser's violation of the act's fraud provi- In its 1987 study of financial planning sions to sue for damages. abuses, CFA estimated that consumers were losing more than half a billion dollars "With these provisions, the bill would a year to financial planning fraud. In ad- help to create an incentive for compliance dition, the study found that consumers with the act that up until now has been misinvested or lost another half a billion sorely lacking," she said. "The private dollars as a result of self-interested or CFA Legislative Representative Barbara Roper called for uniform regulation of financial rights of action provision is particularly incompetent planning. planners at a July House subcommittee hearing. important in this regard, since it creates In March, Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) in- an incentive for compliance without plac- ing any additional strain on limited SEC troduced H.R. 4441, the "Investment Ad- the average consumer has no way of know- 4441 would help plug the holes in this resources." visers Disclosure and Enforcement Act ing exactly what standards his adviser regulatory system, Roper said. of 1990," to address these problems. is required to meet. H.R. 4441 also would strengthen the Roper noted that adequate SEC fund- The bill would amend the Investment "There has been another even more act's disclosure requirements to include ing is also essential for prevention and Advisers Act to cover all those who hold serious result," Roper added. "Con artists far more detailed information about how detection of abuses, an issue that is not themselves out to the public as financial have been able to thrive in the cracks advisers are compensated, including ac- addressed in this legislation. Regardless planners, whether or not they fit the cur- in the regulatory system, confident that tual dollar amounts of commissions and of the funding issue, however, the Boucher rent investment adviser definition. they can call themselves financial plan- other sales inducements they receive from bill would improve dramatically the cur- "Up until now, we have been regulating ners and trigger little if any regulatory the products they recommend. "This pro- rent regulatory system, she said. financial planners under a patchwork of scrutiny." vision is key to attacking self-interested "This legislation moves the Investment laws that cover the various functions finan- By holding all planners to the same stan- planning, since it gives individuals the Adviser Act out of the Dark Ages and cial planners perform," Roper said. "The dards and by subjecting them to Securities information they need to judge for them- into line with the conditions that actually result has been a chaotic system in which and Exchange Commission oversight, H.R. selves how objective their financial plan- exist in the world today," she said. House Passes Food Labeling Bill

Before leaving for the August re- tent, including total number of calories the bill would require vendors to supply passed by the House. It prohibits state cess, the House passed legislation derived from any source, derived from nutrition information, either by posting and local governments from establishing to establish national standards for total fat, and derived from saturated fat; signs or by supplying brochures. conflicting labeling requirements related nutrition labeling and health claim re- and Furthermore, health claims for foods to nutrition, but it does not pre-empt quirements related to food. • list the amount of total fat, saturated would only be permitted if the Food and state or local authority to require warn- Currently, food labels must provide fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohy- Drug Administration determines in regula- ings about carcinogens or other sub- nutrition information only when a nutri- drates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, tions that they are valid, based on "signifi- stances contained in foods. tion claim, such as "low calorie," is also dietary fiber, and total protein. cant scientific agreement." Consumer advocates are concerned that made on the label. Often, the information "This kind of labeling overhaul is long The FDA is directed to develop such the compromise language may still result is provided in a format that consumers overdue," said CFA Product Safety Coor- health claim regulations, as well as defi- in too broad a pre-emption of state authori- find difficult, if not impossible, to decipher. dinator Edith Furst. "Consumers have nitions for such commonly used content ty, covering labeling issues not germaine made it clear that this is the type of in- claims as "light" or "low salt," within 18 H.R. 3562 would require that labels on to the content of the House bill. all but a few exempted items: formation they want and need to make months of enactment. • list the number of servings per con- intelligent choices about their food con- One of the biggest controversies sur- The pre-emption issue is also holding tainer based on "an amount customarily sumption." rounding the bill deals with the issue up passage of a similar Senate bill, S. consumed;" For the 20 most frequently consumed of pre-emption of state laws. A compro- 1425, approved by the Labor and Human • provide information on calorie con- types of vegetables, fruits, and raw fish, mise provision was included in the bill Resources Committee in April. Page 4 CFAnews • September /October 1990 Groups Petition CPSC on ATV Safety

and the U.S. Public Interest major ATV manufacturers. "Given the these extremely dangerous products from CFA. Research Group filed a pe- commission's finding that these vehicles use," Fise said. tition with the Consumer Product Safety are inherently unstable and unreasonably A nationwide U.S. PIRG survey of ATV Commission in July calling on that agen- dangerous, a permanent ban on three- dealers found that, in direct violation of cy to take further action to reduce the wheelers is necessary to ensure that these the age restrictions established in the con- toll of deaths and injuries caused by All machines are not sold by manufacturers sent decree, 54 percent of the ATV dealers Terrain Vehicles. not subject to the consent decree, are surveyed were willing to sell an ATV for ATV crashes have killed more than 1,500 not commercially resold, or reintroduc- use by a ten-year-old. people and seriously injured more than ed in the future," Fise said. "Our survey and a separate CPSC survey 450,000 others since 1982. Forty percent 4) Promulgate a rule which both found that ATV dealers are willing of the victims are children under age would provide refunds to consumers to sell adult-size ATVs to children," said 16. According to the CPSC's own estimates, who purchased any three-wheel ATV and Lucinda Sikes, a staff attorney with U.S. approximately 300 people died in each any four-wheel ATV that was purchased PIRG. "Given the more than 100 childhood of the four years from 1985 through 1988. for use by a child. "CFA believes that such deaths annually and the industry's sub- the most dangerous aspect of the vehicles, "Too little, too late is an apt description refunds would send a clear message that stantial disregard for the consent decree's their poor resistance to sideways rollover. the government considers these vehicles provisions addressing children, a ban of of CPSC's response to the mounting ATV As part of the 1988 consent decree, the deaths and injuries," said CFA Product unsafe and therefore would serve as an ATVs for children's use is justified and CPSC and the five defendant manufac- effective incentive for removing many of necessary." Safety Director Mary Ellen Fise. "It has turers had agreed to attempt in good faith become clear that CPSC needs to get to reach agreement on voluntary tougher on this issue." standards. Under the provisions of the consent "In May 1990 the industry concluded CPSC Approves Crib Toy Petition decree negotiated with the ATV industry it was unable to agree on a lateral stabili- in 1988, sale of three-wheel ATVs was The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 2-1 in August to approve ty standard," Fise said. "Meanwhile, four- a petition filed by CFA and the Attorney General of New York and begin rule- banned, but the sale of four-wheel ATVs wheel ATVs continue to flip over and kill was not banned. The decree also banned making to ban certain types of crib toys. or injure their riders. The time for waiting The petition, which was filed in November 1988, calls for a ban on crib sale of adult-size ATVs for use by children and hoping for a negotiated solution has under age 12, and manufacturers agreed toys that have been implicated in at least 30 deaths, one severe brain damage, run out." and 18 near misses between 1973 and 1987. These include popular crib gyms to provide training in safe use for ATV 2) Ban ATV use by children. "Ex- purchasers and to display warnings of and crib mobiles. perts agree that children simply do not The petition was based on a 1987 study by CPSC staff which found that ATV hazards. have the developmental skills and maturity "The consent decree has not adequate- the toy voluntary standard does not adequately address crib toy hazards and needed to operate any ATV safely," Fise that performance requirements to address this risk are technically feasible. ly reduced the risk to consumers," Fise said. "Limiting the use of ATVs to adults explained. Favorable votes on the petition came from Commissioner Anne Graham and will prevent thousands of needless Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith. In order to reduce those risks, the CFA- childhood deaths and injuries." "This rulemaking addresses a critical gap in toy safety requirements and U.S. PIRG petition calls on the CPSC to: 3) Ban three-wheel ATVs. The 1988 will protect the most vulnerable toy users, infants under one year of age," 1) Establish a mandatory stan- consent decree halted for ten years the said CFA Product Safety Director Mary Ellen Fise. dard on lateral stability, to address sale of new three-wheel ATVs by the five

BULK RATE Farm Bill Contains U.S. POSTAGE PAID WASHINGTON, D.C. Sustainable Ag Provisions PERMIT NO. 8772

Proponents of a more environmentally sound agriculture policy moved one step closer to their goal this summer when both houses of Congress passed versions of the omnibus farm bill that begin to redirect the system away from heavy reliance on pesticides and other chemicals and toward a more "sustainable" approach that conserves water supply and quality, promotes food safety, and protects the natural resource base. The two bills, which have gone to conference committee to iron out differences, both contain provisions to redirect agricultural research and development, as well as extension programs, to support the use of sustainable agriculture techniques. Details of the provisions differ, with the Senate bill containing a stronger definition of sustainable agriculture, while the House bill contains higher authorization levels for these programs. Amendments that would have kept non-profit groups from participating in the research program were defeated on the floor. Both bills also include measures that increase the flexibility in price support programs to allow farmers to maintain their base allotment when they plant resource-conserving crops. The House bill is stronger than the Senate version, allowing farmers to market the resource- conserving crops (including water-conserving crops) while they continue to have their acreage included under the price support programs. If the crop they switch to is part of the price support system, the farmer would be eligible to receive that payment. Because both houses passed a version of these measures, programs of this type are assured of surviving in conference in some form. "We won't know until the bill comes out of conference committee just what the final legislation will look like, but we are pushing to get the best possible package we can," said CFA Legislative Representative Peggy Miller. Both bills also contained provisions to set a national standard for use of the term organic on food labels and to establish a U.S. Department of Agriculture organic labeling and certification program. This should make it easier for farmers to market organically grown foods across state lines and through supermarket chains. Provisions were also included to require farmers to keep records of their use of pesticides or other chemicals that have been found to be toxic.