see a lot more on that after tax reform. and after tax reform is the current view that we have and hopefully that's sooner than 2018. >> other questions? >> other questions for kevin hassett. turn it back to john. >> i want to ask you about sector stagnation. we have larry-- >> we're going to leave the last couple of minutes of this discussion and go live now to the 32nd annual trouble this toyland survey from the u.s. public interest research group and showing you examples of hazardous toys, and of the year's holiday season. and live c-span2 is just starting. >> we are a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. i am joined today by dr. lenore jarvis, a fellow of the american association of pediatrics and rachel weintraub, legislature and

consumer federation of america. after my comments, we will open it up for questions from you all. today we are here to release the u.s. education fund, 32nd annual toy safety report, trouble in toyland. the message today is clear, we need to protect our youngest consumers from dangerous toys and parents and consumers need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for these toys. over the past 30 years, our report has led to at least 150 recalls and other actions to take dangerous toys off store shelves. now, this year, when our researchers went out looking for potential hazards, we once again found toys and products that could harm or poison a child and we found these toys in national chains all over the country from dollar stores to big box stores, like target. our report also lists the over

30 toys that were recalled by the consumer product safety commission. parents should compare this list with toys they already have in their homes to make sure that they don't already have recalled toys. you in, with recalls for large products like cars, you know, you have people that are actually let-- people are notified by the manufacturers. that's not always the case with manufacturers with toy recalls. so, that's why we want people to check for them in their homes. in 2008, policy makers responded to an unprecedented wave of toy recalls bypassing a law that revamps the consumer products safety commission and gave it tools to better protect kids. this includes speeding up recalls, with publicly accessible data base.

and banning heavy metals such as salates in toys and third party testing of toys. some of the products still out there, you know, do not adhere to these standards and also, there are standards that actually need to be strengthened in order to better protect our kids. there are six different types of categories of toys that we particularly want to caution parents and care givers about. that is toxic toys, data collecting toys, choking hazards, magnets, toys and batteries that can overheat and catch fire and overly excessively noisy toys. so some of the most dangerous toys out there for kids are actually invisible because they contain toxic substantials such as the heavy metal lead and chemicals known as phthalates.

let's talk about lead. we know about the dangers posed by lead. it was in 1978 and in gasoline nearly as long. lead is a neuro toxin that lowers iq and causes behavioral problems and you know, what we did was we sent out toys that we purchased at national retailers across the country and sent them off to a cpsc certificated laboratory to see if they had lead in them. so, there is a legal limit of 100 parts per million of lead in children's products and our lab results showed that there is an excessive amount of lead in two of this year's hottest toys, fitting spinners. this digit premium spinner brass which we got at target contains a whopping 33 parts her million of lead, 330 times

the legal limit for lead allowed in children's toys and products. and we also found another fidget spinner which exceeds the legal limit for lead in toys. and we also got that at target. so, on november 10th, target did announce that they are removing these products from their toy shelves, but at first they balked at our request to do so. they cited a consumer product safety commission rule that states that generally use products directed to consumers 14 and up do not have to adhere to the legal limits for children's products directed to kids 12 and under. but as any parent or teacher will tell you, kids definitely play with fidget spinners regardless of the label on the box, not to mention that at the time of the testing, target.com, their website actually recommended this

fidget spinner for kids six and up. now, we do commend target for taking these dangerous toys off of their website and their store shelves, but now, it's time for the cpsc, target and bullseye toy, the supplier of these toys to actually issue an official recall. it's great that by taking them off their shelves no new person will be exposed to these toxics, but we also have to make sure to protect those who already have them in their homes and that's why we need a recall. also, in order to protect children in the future from toxics like this, the cpsc needs to revise its loose and arbitrary standards for labeling products like this. cpsc stands for the consumer product safety commission and now it's time for them to stand up for consumers. now, let's talk about another

taxic called falates. they're connected to reproductive and problems in children. and there's a final rule last month to bans any toy or children's product with over 1,000 parts per million of five different thalates. we've been calling for several years for them to ban the other five and we're glad to see them do that. now, i'd like to talk about a new category of toy that is making its debut for the very first time in our reports. and that is internet connected toys that pose a privacy concern. just this july, the fbi issued

a stark warning to parents to consider cyber security before introducing, you know, these internet-connected toys that, you know, are smart and interactive. the number of these products is growing daily. websites, mobile apps and products including children's watches and toys can track users and collect information on children under age 13 who are actually currently protected by a law called the children's on-line privacy protection act. now, an example of one of these toys is actually this doll here called my friend kayla, which we purchased at wal-mart. now, here is the problem with kayla. kayla is actually already banned in germany for privacy violations and several consumer groups have filed an official complaint with the federal

trade commission over privacy concerns what these groups are alleging is that kayla can actually be accessed on a bluetooth connection without password which means she can be used as a headset, a speaker or a mic. what this mean is that a stranger can use kayla to spy on your kids and talk to your kids. if that's not creepy, i don't know what is. >> hello, mike. >> okay. that is in fact, very creepy. okay. so, another problem with kayla is that she also collects answers to questions that kayla asks your child, like their name, their pets, or really anything and that goes up to a website that could be used for pretty much any purpose. and these consumer groups allege this is also a violation of existing children's privacy laws. okay. so, now i'd like to turn to

choking hazards. which are the leading cause of recalls. we all know that toddlers put everything in their mouths. tragically, from 2001 to 2015 there have been at least 114 choking deaths or asphyxiations on toys by children. so toys are banned if the toy or any part of the toy can fit into this choke test tube. toys with small parts that are intended for children between the ages of three to six are required to have a choke hazard warning. unfortunately, we found this gulf wooden toy at dollar tree, which has parts in it that actually fit into the choke test tube.

this is a choking hazard and it does not have the appropriate label. small balls are subject to a more stringent test and basically small balls that fit into this test cannot be sold to kids under three. now, any ball that is marketed to kids over three has to come with a special small balls warning. there are two things that we think need to be improved. this small parts choke test actually needs to be made larger because children choke on toys that are larger, that go over this tube. also, we believe that toys that are not quite balls, but still very clearly round should be subject to the small ball test. especially toy foods because kids might they they're actually food and try to put

them in their mouth. now, we tell parents and care givers that there is a reliable test that we all have at home and that's a standard sized toilet paper roll. if a toy or a part of a toy fits into this roll, then it's not suitable for children under three. now, let's talk about balloons. children can easily inhale balloons when trying to blow them up and then they get stuck in the back of their throat. balloons are the leading cause of choking deaths among children and, you know, all balloon packages must contain a label saying that they are a choking hazard for children under eight. we found five different types of balloons at party city, dollar city plus, and dollar tree that have labeling problems. for example, this package of party balloons we got a dollar city plus says it's not suitable for kids under three,

but it doesn't actually have the legally required label saying it's a choking hazard for kids under eight. okay, we're also concerned about high powered magnets which rachel will talk about in a little bit during her comments. so now let's talk about overheating batteries. hoverboards are still a prime example of this and still pose a hazardment tragically rorl this year there was a house fire that took the lives of two young girls and a firefighter. that was believed to have been caused by a hoverboard that was charging, overheated and caught the house on fire. just last month, there was another house fire, also believed to have been caused by a hoverboard. numerous hoverboards are taken off the shelves by the cpsc, we're encouraging parents to make sure that any hoverboard

has the certification sticker. they warn that that does not guarantee that the hover board will still not overheat. finally i'd like to talk about nosy toils. the cpsc has not recalled a toy that was excessively noisy, but children have the most chance of hearing loss. and it affects their hearing loss. it might be due in part for children playing with loud toys. you know, we warn parents especially to be cautious about toy cell phones because kids put them up to their ear and their ears are very fragile. if you think that you have a loud toy at home, you can put tape over the speaker or just

simply take the batteries out. so, you know, in conclusion, the cpsc has made a lot of progress over the last decade protecting our kids. we hope that it will continue to do so, that congress will continue-- that congress will give it the resources that the commission needs in order to protect the kids. there are hazards out there that need to be addressed. we believe that the small parts choke test needs to be made larger. we believe that toxic policy in our country needs to be overhauled because there are thousands of chemicals not regulated or inadequately regulated. we also strongly urge the cpsc to work together with target and bullseye toy, the fidget spinner that we found this year to issue an official recall. what can kids, caregivers, what

can parents do? you can go to our website, toysafetytips.org to get our report, get the list of potential hazards out there and get the list of recalled toys from the last year. pull it up on your smart phone when you're out shopping this holiday season and go to saferproducts.gov for problems with toys or consumer products. we want to remind people what we are going over are examples of hazards in toys out there. you still need to be vigilant about other children's products and toys out there and also, parents should heat the fbi's warning about internet-connected toys. so now, i had a he like to introduce dr. jarvis. >> good morning. my name is dr. lenore jarvis and i am a pediatrician. i'm here today representing the

american academy of pediatrics. the ap is a nonprofit professional organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians. pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, well-being of infants and young adults. unintentionnal injuries remain in the united states, the fifth leading preventible cause of deaths for newborns underage of one. almost 9 million children annually are treated for their injuries at the emergency department. and ap supports reducing child morbidi morbidity-- two of the hazards that concern

us are lead and high strength magnets. first, lead. lead exposure can cause serious damage to children's developing brain. there is no safe lead level exposure in children. with lasting decreasing in cognition documented in children and blood levels as low as five micrograms in the blood, at that level the c.d.c. recommends evaluation and interventi intervention. however, all elevated lead levels are a concern. further, most children would elevated lead levels are asymptomatic. as the lead levels rise, children may complain of nonspecific symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain, loss of appetite or constipation. high powered magnet sets also give us great concern. these sets are composed of tiny high powered magnet balls and

cubes, often with 200 or more magnets to a set. when more than two are swallowed it allows them to find themselves across or in between the digestive system. connections can occur between the stomach and small intestines, between the small intestine and the colon or across the bowel. to keep children safe, the american academy of pediatrics has following ten tips to help caregivers get safe and appropriate toys for children. number one, read the label, warning labels give us important information about how to use the toy and what ages the toy is safe for. be sure to show your child how to use the toy the right way. number two, think large. make sure that all toy parts are larger than your child's mouth to prevent choking. three, avoid toys that shoot

objects into the air. they can cause serious eye injuries or choking. number four, avoid toys that are loud to prevent damage to your child's hearing. five, look for stuffed toys that are well made. make sure that all parts are on tight and seams and edges are secure. it should also be machine washable, take off any loose ribbons or strings to avoid strangulation and avoid toys that have small bean-like stuffing that can avoid choking if swallowed. thin plastic may break easy. seven, avoid toys with toxic materials, that could cause poisoning. make sure the label says nontoxic. >> avoid chemical kits younger than eight years of age.

make sure older children know how to safely handle these kinds of toys. nine, electric toys should be ul approved. check the label to be sure and lastly, ten, be careful buying crib toys. soft objects, loose bedding, or objects that could cause increased risk of entrapment, suffocation or strangulation should be kept out of the crib. any mobiles or crib gyms must be out of baby's reach and must be removed when they push up on hands and knees or when-- thanks for the opportunity to talk about how to keep kids safe. >> good morning, i'm rachel weintraub, legislative direct and counsel with consumer federation of america. consumer federation of america is a nonprofit association of

approximately 250 consumer groups that since 1968 has sought to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education. cfa is proud to stand with u.s. in releasing the report trouble in toyland. this year's findings highlight that hidden hazards continue to pose risks to children. we congratulate them on their 32nd year of providing important information how to avoid unsafe toys and find the right toys for the children on their list. the consumer product safety act gave new authority to the u.s. consumer product safety commission or cpsc to protect children from unsafe products. safety standards, independent third period of time testing, increased port inspections stop more dangerous toys than ever

before from reaching toy shfls. the cpsia requires that consumers purchasing toys on-line see the relevant safety warnings as they decide what toys to purchase, helping consumers select the right products for their children. parents and all consumers should continue to carefully research and select the safest and most appropriate gifts for their children or the children on their list. manufacturers should ensure that they comply with the law, continued cpsc enforcement and adequate funding is necessary to further product our nation's children. parents and others can make toys safer by reporting hazards in toys to safer products.gov and by looking at safer products.gov before a product is purchased. consumers should also check to

make sure that products they own or products they seek to purchase have been recalled. 28 toys were recalled in fiscal year 2017. this number is up from 24 in 2016, but down from 172 in fiscal year 2008 when the cpsia was passed. in fiscal year 2017, more than 745,000 toys were seized at u.s. ports for violating toy standards. cpsc's cab -- collaborative work prevented toys from entering the u.s. it's critical this work could continue. hidden hazards could be lurking in your home. it's imperative that children's products not contain lead, not ignite fires and not cause serious health consequences from ingestion. this year's trouble in toy land

report found that popular fidget spinners contain very high levels of lead. this should not happen. there is no safe level of lead. these products have play vl for children and are used by children as toys. these products should not pose risks to children as they play. target did the right thing by stopping sale of these products, but now it's up to cpsc and the manufacturer of these products to recall these products so that those already in consumer's hands be removed. serious danger is posed to children and teens by high powered rare earth magnets. here is an example of a magnet set. these products have play value for children and pose hidden hazard that parents don't

anticipate. first, it's hard to tell if any of these are missing because they come in these sorts of sets. and as dr. jarvis explained if more than one of these is swallowed it can rip internal tissue posing serious health threats. unfortunately these products are appearing in the market again and are now available tore sale. we urge parents not to purchase for children and urge to finalize a health protective rule. cpsc is aware of over 250 hoverboard incidents related to fires or overheating. as mike mentioned. there have been recent tragic deaths of a two-year-old girl, a ten-year-old girl in a fire, a firefighter in pennsylvania. in addition, cpsc had reports of 13 burn injuries, three smoke inhalation injuries and

more than $4 million in property damage related to hoverboards. last week cpsc issued another seven recalls of these products, because the lithium ion battery packs pose a risk of catching fire or exploding. one of these recalls of the lazy board was reissued from may of 2017 after a second house fire also in pennsylvania destroyed one town home and damaged four others. we urge parents to make sure if they have a hoverboard in their home to check whether they've been recalled. if so, to remove them from their homes and get a refund and for purchasing new hoverboards, to make sure it has the mark of the new ul safety standard. we applaud u.s. work on toy safety and look forward to working with them, the american academy of pediatrics and other

groups, as well as the consumer product safety commission, retailers and manufacturers to protect children from hazards posed by unsafe products to assure that children are safe on holidays and every day. thank you. . >> great. thank you all. we're happy to take any questions. >> can you go over the doll again, and what kind of information they're collecting, is that kind of like a facebook thing where they market it later? >> now, i don't know whether the marketing right now, but the truth is, there's so much that we don't know about how this information is being collected. it could, in theory be used for any purpose. what's happening, this is an interactive smart doll that will ask your child questions, what's your name, your pet, your name for this and that and that basically goes to a cloud and uploaded to a website and there actually have been

hackings of similar types of internet-connected toy clouds earlier this year, this happened. so, it's definitely a problem. >> do you have any specific cases involving criminal activity with that toy? >> so, with this, there isn't any confirmed cases like that and in germany banned for privacy violations and the subject of an official complaint from the federal trade commission because it very well could actually violation existing children's privacy protections we have on books in our own country. >> great. any other questions? >> do you have anything positive to say about the toy industry? there's a lot of gloom and doom here with the items, but you don't have a warehouse full of toys that are causing problems. so is there anything positive you can say about the toy

industry? >> yeah, one thing we'll say over the 30 years because the consumer product safety commission has been enforcing child safety laws, you know, we are certainly in a safer position than we were 30 years ago, you know, and in regards to the fidget spinners, we commend the manufacturers and as well as target for taking these off their shelves, but it's also important that they actually issue an official recall. >> could i answer that question, too, also, with the passage of the consumer product safety improvement act in 2008. what were before voluntary standards are now mandatory and products on the market need to be tested to meet that standard before they are sold, which is what most consumers thought was happening before which wasn't. ...

magnet sets. so my finger is likely thicker than intestinal tissue, but this is what occurs when a child swallows more than one of these magnets pick the magnets are so strong that they had magnetic force through tissue. and this type of magnetic power can rip tissue, ultimately causing serious health impacts, infections, and other things. and what is so concerned about this is that parents really don't at all expect the consequences of swallowing more than one of these things, and it's almost impossible for them to tell that to of these could

be missing from this set. >> how did that get on the market? >> well -- [inaudible] >> this is one of those products that sort of similar to this at first was age graded a little higher so the argument was at first that these were not toys, that these were general use products. but i remember in 2008 when my son was eight, he told all of his friends had these. so this was a problem. these clearly had play value. they were used like toys, as toys by children. and it was a problem. it was a lag in safety where the innovation of these products being available in the market exceeded safety standard. this is been a complicated legal process. we issued a very effective standard that effectively banned these, made them larger so they

couldn't be ingested and also required that the magnets not be that strong. unfortunately, that visceral was struck down by the tenth circuit. and now it has been remanded essentially back to the cpsc and we urge the cpsc to again we issued a public it that role responded to the tenth circuit to make sure that these products no longer again pose risks to children. >> little boys love toys that shoot things. how do you prevent that? >> well, the issue of course is when toys are shot at other people or could unintentionally be shot in the child's own eyes. so those are issues that continue to be of concern, and projectile toys in addition could pose potential harms to children. so when parent or gift giver is

considering giving a gift have to really consider in addition to the age of the child but also have a child would likely play with toys. >> spinners, are those sold anywhere else are those just target? >> the fidget spinners with the excessive levels of lead were, including this one that we found at target, and the other spinners that we tested at other places did not exceed the limits for land. >> the toy manufacturer of those, they were selling them still what you're saying they're not selling the anymore? >> so to be clear, target is not selling these on the website or at their stores, but i can't speak to whether or not the manufacturer is to making them or not.

[inaudible] >> i am mike litt. >> i'm rachel weintraub with consumer federation of america. >> dr. lenore jarvis. with the american academy of pediatrics. >> are there a lot of toys like her or are they knew on the market that will be looking for more toys like her in the future? >> yeah, the latter. so kayla represents more of what we can expect to see in terms of internet connected toys on the marketplace. >> it's been on the market for about a year now. >> i would say at least a year. >> in your packets there's the fbi warning, if anybody didn't get a packet we can get you a packet. >> so there's not a lot of competitors for kayla right now. there are not other dolls that

have similar capacity at the moment? >> you know, , i'm not actually sure what other toys that might be like her. but again, there was actually an internet connected teddy bear earlier this year that does similar things where it collects information, stores it in the cloud. and that got hacked earlier this year. definitely a lot of privacy concerns in terms of being able to spy on and listen to your kids, but also just collected their information. [inaudible] >> we can make it happen. she gets possessed on and off. [inaudible] >> yeah, we will give it a shot. [inaudible] >> you have reached the united

states -- [inaudible] >> i'm talking to the doll again. can you hear me? >> doesn't this sound creepy? >> oh, yeah. how about i am listening to you. >> a a very manly voice. [laughing] >> i can also hear everything you're saying right now. it all comes to the bluetooth connection. >> so kayla is watching -- are right. thank you, all. >> thank you. [inaudible] >> what's that? [inaudible] [inaudible conversations]

>> [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> tonight on c-span2 it's booktv in prime time with

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