Have you heard of the CPSIA?
After all the tainted toys from China were discovered, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) . This act is designed to protect our children from the contamination of lead and other harmful products by requiring items designed for use by children be tested. But, a problem exists....the cost of testing an item by an approved laboratory is around $4000 - PER ITEM. There is no way many of the Mom and Pop stores can afford that.
This will affect each and every one of us in some way: Have you ever bought anything from a Work at Home Mom? Every shopped on Etsy? Ever bought a pair of handknitted mittens? How about local made wooden toys? If the CPSIA continues on the path it is on, these handmade items will virtually dissappear. These small WAHMs and Mom and Pop operations can't afford $4000 per item. Poof - no more buying one of a kind handmade items - or at least the ones we can afford.
But then there is more...what about the economic impact of the CPSIA. Many of your local stores sell handmade items...and if the items aren't tested, then they can't sell them either...and if they are a store which counts on a large revenue from the sale of handmade items, they may close shop. If these small stores begin to close, it will have a rippling effect on your neighborhood - a few more unemployed people, a few more people leaning on the government for assistance...higher taxes to cover the increased expense of the governement helping people....
Now I am going to ask you to do something. I am asking that each and every one of you reading this write a letter to your Congressmen and Senators. You can contact them here: Congress Person here and Senator here.
I've made it easy for you to contact them with the links above. Now I'm making it even easier - you don't have to write a letter of your own. You can copy and paste the letter I have written below. Feel free to alter the letter in anyway you feel you should. You can also find a sample letter here: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/
Dear (Senator or Congressman),
I was very alarmed by the toxicity of many children's toys made by large Chinese toy manufacturers. And, I was comforted that Congress acted on behalf of the American Citizens when they enacted the CPSIA, which protects our loved ones from harm.
However, a great concern has arisen. The CPSIA's mandate for third party testing and labeling will close the doors on many small businesses who hand make children's toys and clothing items.
The fees charged by the Third Party testing companies will undoubtedly be too big a financial burden for these Mom and Pop operations.
It is my understanding that the materials used in the making of handmade toys and clothing items have already been tested, and retesting an item made using these already tested materials is an added expense and burden which need not occur.
These small businesses and handcrafters across America often provide unique, one of a kind items. Should the CPSIAs rulings be applied as they are now, these one of a kind items will disappear from existence. This will directly affect Maine's economy. The small shops which buy and resell items from local handcrafters will be unable to do so. In a time of economic distress such as the American Economy is in now, the loss of revenue from these handmade items could be what closes the door on these shops. With the closure of more and more small businesses, Maine will have higher unemployment rates and dependency on government assistance.
These unique businesses deserve your protection. I am counting on you to take a stand for the small people of Maine, as I have seen you do many times in the past.
Thank you for your consideration and time in this matter. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
(Your Name Here)
Thank you for helping,
Hope | 
Posted by 
Posted by 
https://webmail.kctcs.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=256353afd7c14acebc6abb98c85aa2ea&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cpsc.gov%2fcpscpub%2fprerel%2fprhtml09%2f09086.html
Oh dear, that's long - hope it works ;)
Just wanted to stop by and say hello and see how you were doing. We haven't chatted in a while. Our entire family has been sick for about six weeks. I *think* we may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but I could sleep for a month at this point! lol I hope you and yours have fared better this holiday season!