bethlehem"town of plays] ♪ >> when congress returns from thanksgiving break, lawmakers will be focused on tax reform. a provision on drilling in the arctic included. the revised bill goes to the senate floor later in the week. it, houseenate passes and senate negotiators would two to reconcile the

versions which would have to go back to the house and senate for final votes. with the holiday shopping season on us, the public interest research group issued its annual report on toy safety. this is 40 minutes. >> good morning. everybody ready? >> good morning and thank you for coming. i am the consumer campaign director with the u.s. public interest group education fund. nonpartisan,onal nonprofit organization. i am joined today by a fellow of the american association of pediatrics, and also general counsel and legislative director of the consumer federation of america. after my statement and their

comments, we will open it up for questions from y'all. today we are here to release the u.s. education fund's toy safety report, "trouble in toyland." we need to protect our consumers from dangerous toys, and parents and parents and consumers need to watch out for hazards when shopping for these toys. over the past 30 years, the report has led to at least 150 recalls or other actions to take dangerous toys off shelves. this year, when researchers went looking for potential hazards, we once again found toys and products that could poison or harm a child. we found these toys in national chains all over the country,

from small stores to big-box stores like target. our report lists the over 30 toys recalled by the consumer product safety commission. parents should compare this list to the toys they have in their homes to make sure they don't have recalled toys. with recalls for large products like cars, you have people that are actually -- people are notified by the manufacturer. that is not always the case with toy recalls. that is why we want people to check for them in their homes. in 2008, policymakers responded to an unprecedented wave of toy recalls by passing a law that revamped the consumer product safety commission, and gave it tools to better protect kids. this includes speeding up recalls with publicly accessible database called saferproducts.gov. banning heavy metals and other

chemicals, called thalates, in children's products and toys, and requiring third-party testing of products and toys. some of the products still out there do not adhere to these standards. there are standards that need to be strengthened in order to better protect our kids. there are six types of categories of toys that we want to caution parents and caregivers 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. some of the most dangerous toys out there for kids are invisible because they contain toxic substances such as heavy metal lead, and chemicals known as known as phthalates.

lead has been banned in paint since 1978, and gasoline for nearly as long. lead is a powerful neurotoxin that lowers iq and causes behavioral problems. we sent out toys that we purchased at national retailers across the country, and sent them off to a certified laboratory to see if they had lead in them. there is a legal limit of 100 parts per million for lead in children's products. lab results show an excessive amount of lead in fidgets vendors.

this fidget spinner that we got at target contains a whopping three 3000 parts per million of lead, which is 330 times the legal amount of lead allowed in children's products. we found another fidget spinner that contains 1300 parts per million of lead, which also far exceeds the limit of lead in toys. we also got down target. november 10, target announced they are removing these products. at first, they cited a consumer product safety commission rule that states that general use products directed to consumers 14 and up do not have to adhere

to the legal limit for children's products directed to kids 12 and under. as any parent or teacher will tell you, kids definitely playing with fidget spinners regardless of the label on the boxed. target's website recommended this toy for kids age 6 and up. we commend target for taking these toys off their shelves and site, but it is time for the suppliers of these toys to actually issue an official recall. it is great that by taking him off the shelves, no new person would be exposed to these toxins, but we have to make sure to protect those that already have them in their homes. that is why we need a recall. also, in order to protect children in the future from toxics like this, the cpsc needs to loosen its arbitrary standards for age labeling.

the consumer product safety commission -- now it is time for them to stand up for consumers. let's talk about another toxic, a chemical that manufacturers use to make plastics harder. phthalates are linked to reproductive and developmental problems in children. in a victory for consumers. we want to applaud the cpsc for issuing a rule that bans any toy or children's product with five parts per million of any five phthalates. we are so glad to see them ban these other five. i would look to talk about a new category of toy making its debut for the first time in a record, and that is internet connected toys that pose a privacy concern. just this july, the fpi issued a stark warning to parents to consider cyber security before introducing these connected toys that 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 the age of 13, who are currently protected by a law called the children's online protection act. an example of one of these toys is this doll here called my friend kayla, which we purchased at walmart. kayla is already banned in germany for privacy violations. 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 be accessed on a bluetooth connection without a password, which means she could be used as a headset, a speaker, or a mic. what this means is that a stranger can use kayla to spy and talk to your kid. if that is not creepy, i don't know what is.

>> hello mike. >> that is in fact very creepy. another problem with kayla is that she collects answers to questions that kayla asks her child, like names of pets. that goes to a website that could be used for pretty much any purpose. consumer groups allege this is a violation of existing children's privacy laws. now i would like to turn to choking hazards, which are the leading cause of recalls. we know that toddlers put

everything in their mouth. tragically from 2001 to 2015, there have been at least 114 choking deaths or asphyxiation's on toys by children. toys aare banned if 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 3 to 6 are required to have a choke hazard warning. unfortunately, we found this wooden toy that 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 much more stringent test.

small balls that fit into this test cannot be sold to kids under three. any ball that is marketed to kids over three has to come with a special small balls warning. there are two things we think needs to be improved. this small parts choked test needs to be made larger. children joke on toys that are larger than this tube. we believe that toys that are not quite balls but still clearly around should be subject to the small ball test, especially toy food, because kids might think they are actual food and try to put it into their mouths. we tell parents and caregivers that there is a reliable test we have at home, and that is the

standard sized toilet paper roll. if a part of a toy fits into this roll, it is not suitable for children under three. now let's talk about balloons. children can easily inhale balloons trying to blow them up, and they get stuck in the back of their throat. balloons are the leading cause of choking deaths among children. all balloon packages must contain a label, a choking hazard under 8. we found five different types of balloons at party city, dollar city, and dollar tree which have labeling problems. this package of party balloons at dollars city plus since it is not suitable for kids under three, but it does not have the legally required label saying it is a choking hazard for kids under 8.

we are also concerned about high-powered magnets, which rachel will talk about in a little bit during her comments. now let's talk about overheating batteries. hoverboards are still a prime example of this. tragically earlier this year, there was a house fire that took the lives of two young girls and a firefighter. that is 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 believed to have been caused by a house fire. numerous hoverboard's are being taken off the shelves by the cpsc. we encourage parents to make sure any of the board has the ul227 certification sticker. the cpsc warns that sticker does not guarantee that the

hoverboard will not overheat. finally i would like to talk about excessively noisy toys. cpsc has not recall a toy that is excessively noisy over the past year, but it is still a concern. children have the most to lose from hearing loss. it messes with your ability to learn vocabulary, grammar, and other parts of verbal communication. one in seven children between the ages of six to 17 experience some kind of hearing loss that may be due in part to these large toys. we warn parents especially to be cautious of toy cell phones, because kids put them up tho their ear, and they are very fragile.

you can put tape over the speaker, or simply take the batteries out. in conclusion, the cpsc has made a lot of progress over the last decade protecting our kids. we hope congress will give it the resources that the commission needs in order to protect our kids. there are still hazards that need to be addressed. we believe the small parts choke test needs to be made larger. we believe the toxics policy in our country has to be overhauled. there are thousands of chemicals that are not regulated, or inadequately regulated. we also strongly urge the cpsc to work together with target and bullseye toys, the two suppliers

of fidget spinner with a large amount of lead this year, to issue an official recall. what can parents do? you can go to our website, toy -- toysafetytips.org to get our report of the list of potential hazards, get the list of recalled toys. pointed out on your smartphone -- pull it up on your smartphone this holiday season. you can go to saferproducts.gov for any problems you are having with toys or other consumer products. these are examples of toys and hazards out there. you need to be aware of other concerns out there. parents should heed the fbi's warning about internet connected toys. now i would like to introduce dr. jarvis. dr. jarvis: i am a pediatrician here representing the american

academy of pediatrics, a nonprofit professional organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. unintentional injuries remain the number one cause of death in children ages 1 to 19, and the fifth preventable cause of death for newborns under the age of one. almost 9 million children annually are treated for injuries at a hospital emergency department. the ap strongly supports all efforts to reduce the incidence of child related injury and related morbidity and mortality. pediatricians have long counseled parents about toy and product safety. 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 brains.

there is no safe lead level exposer in children. with lasting decreases in cognition documented in children, and blood levels as low as five milligrams per deciliter, the cdc recommends intervention. however all elevated lead levels are a concern. further, most children with elevated levels are asymptomatic. children may complain about nonspecific symptoms, such as headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or constipation. high-powered magnets also give us great concern. these sets are composed of tiny high-powered magnet balls or cubs, often with 200 or more magnets to a set. when one or two magnets are swallowed, attractive forces allow them to find each other across different segments of the digestive system.

for example, connections can occur between the stomach and small intestine, between the small intestine and colon, or across loops of bowels. to keep children safe, the american academy of pediatrics has 10 tips to pick 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 between his 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 choice 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 hearing. five, make sure parts are well-made. it should be machine washable. take off any loose ribbons or strings to avoid strangulation, and avoid toys that have pellets or stuffing that could cause choking or suffocation if swallowed. six, buy plastic toys that are sturdy. thin plastic might break easily. seven, avoid toys with toxic materials that could cause poisoning. make sure the label says non-toxic. number eight, avoid hobby kits and chemistry sets for any child younger than 12 years of age. they could cause fires were explosions. nature older children know how to handle these kinds of toys. nine, electric toys should be ul approved.

check the label to be sure. ten, be careful buying crib toys, loose objects that could cause further entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation should be kept out of the crib. mobile should be out of the baby's reach, and must be removed when your baby pushes up on their hands and knees, or when they turned five months old, whichever occurs first. thank you for hearing our tips to keep kids safe. >> good morning. i am legislative director and general counsel with consumer federation of america. a nonprofit association of approximately 250 consumer groups that, since 1968, have sought to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education.

cfa is proud to stand in releasing this report, "trouble in toyland." this year's findings highlight for the risks to children. we congratulate perd on the 32nd year of providing consumers with important information about how to avoid unsafe toys, and find the right toys for the children on their list. the consumer product safety improvement act gave new authority to the product safety commission to protect children from unsafe products. mandatory toy standards, lower lead limits, independent third-party testing, and increased inspections stop more dangerous toys than ever before from reaching shelves. the cpsia requires those

purchasing toys online see the relevant safety warnings. helping consumers select the right product for their children. parents and all consumers should continue to carefully research and select the safest and most appropriate gift for their children or children on their list. manufacturers should ensure that they comply with the law, continued cpsc enforcement, and adequate funding is necessary to further protect our nation's children. parents and others can make toys safer by reporting hazards to safer products.gov. by looking at safer products.gov before a product is purchased. consumers should also check to make sure that products they own

or 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. more than 745,000 toys were seized at u.s. ports of violatino toy standards. work with the u.s. customs and border patrol prevented these toys from entering the u.s. it is critical that this work continue. hidden hazards could be lurking in your home. it is imperative that children's products not contain lead, not ignite fires, and not cause serious health consequences from ingestion. this year's report found popular fidget spinners contain very high levels of lead. this should not happen.

there is no safe level of lead. these products have play value for children, and are used by children as toys. these should not pose risk to children as they play. target did the right thing by stopping sale of these products. it is up to the manufacturer of these to recall these products so that those in consumer's hands already be removed. serious danger is posed by high-powered rare earth magnets. here is an example of a magnet set. these products have play value for children and pose hidden hazards 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. if more than one of these is

swallowed, it can rip internal tissue, posing serious health risks. these are appearing in the market again, and are now available for sale. we urge families not to purchase these products, and urge the cpsc 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 10-year-old girl in a fire, that firefighter in pennsylvania. in addition, cpsc has reports of 13 birth injuries, 3 smoke inhalation injuries, and more than $4 million in property damage related to hoverboards. last week the cpsc issued

another seven recalls of these products because lithium-ion battery packs pose a risk of catching fire or explosion. one of these recalls was reissued from may 2017 after a second house fire, also in pennsylvania, destroyed one townhome, and damaged four others. we manage parents and consumers to make sure if they have a hoverboard in their home, to check whether they have been. we applaud their work on toy safety and look forward to 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 by unsaved products, make sure they are safe on holidays and everyday. >> we're happy to take any questions you might have. >> could you go over the doll and what types of information it is collecting? >> i don't know about the is,eting, but the truth there is so much we don't know about how this information is being collected. it couldn't very be used for any purpose. what is happening is this is an interactive smart doll that will ask your child a bunch of questions like, what is your name, what is your favorite this or that and that information goes to the cloud and is uploaded to a website. there have been hacking of similar types of internet connected toy clouds. earlier this year, this

happened. >> to you have any specific cases involving criminal activity with the toy? this, there are not any confirmed cases like that, but it has been banned in germany for privacy violations and has also been the subject of a official complaint to the federal trade commission. it will couldn't -- could violate existing children's privacy protections we have on the books in our own country. any other questions? >> to you have anything to say about the soy industry? there is a lot of gloom and doom but you don't have a warehouse full of toys causing problems. is there anything positive to say about the toy industry? >> one thing we will say is over the 30 years, because the consumer product safety

commission has been enforcing child safety laws, we are in a safer position than we were 30 years ago. the fidgetto spinners, we commend the manufacturer, as well as target for taking them off their shelves and it is important that they will issue an official recall. >> with the passage of the consumer product safety improvement act, what were before voluntary toy standards are now mandatory and product on the market need to be tested to meet that standard before they are sold, which is what consumers thought was happening for, but wasn't. there are examples of things that fall through the cracks, but the fact that we have a much stronger system in place means fewer unsafe toys and up getting onto the market.

i wanted to illustrate. this shows the power of the rare earth magnet set. my finger is likely thicker than intestinal tissue, but this is what occurs when a child swallows more than one of these magnets. they are so strong that they have magnetic force through tissue. can type of magnetic power rip tissue, ultimately causing serious health impacts, infection, and other things. what is so concerning is that parents don't really expect the consequences of swallowing more than one of these. and it is almost impossible to tell that to of these could be missing from this set.

>> [inaudible] >> this was a problem that similar to this, was age graded higher. the argument was that these were not toys, general use products. i member in 2008, my son told me that all of his friends had these. this was a problem, they had play value. they were used like toys by children. it was a problem, it was a lag in safety where the innovation of these products being available in the market exceeded the safety standards. this has been a complicated legal process. effectivessued an legal standard that effectively banned these and make them larger so they could not be ingested and required that the magnets not be that strong.

unfortunately this rule was struck down by the 10th circuit. now it has been remanded back to the cpsc. we urge them to re-issue and obligate that rule responding to the 10th circuit to make sure that these products no longer pose risks to children. that shootut things things, little boys love toys that shoot things. how do you prevent that? >> the issue is when toys are shot at other people or could unintentionally be shot in the child's own eyes. those are issues that continue to be of concern. projectile toys could pose potential harm to children. when a parent or gift giver is gift,ering purchasing a they have to really consider, in addition to the age of the child

and how the child would likely play with toys. >> the spinners, are those sold anywhere else or just target question mark >> the fidget spinners with excessive levels of lead -- two, including this one, were found at target. the other spinners we tested at other places did not exceed the limits for lead. theou're saying manufacturer was selling them but are not anymore? >> to be clear, target is not selling these on their website or at their stores. i cannot speak to whether or not the manufacturer is still making them or not. >> i am mike litt. weintraub.chel

jarvis, withenore the american academy of pediatrics. >> this doll, kayla, are there a lot of toys like her or is she something like we will see more of in the future? >> taylor -- kayla prisons more of what we can expect to see on the marketplace. quick she has been on the market for about a year now. >> i would say about a year. >> if anybody can get a packet with the fbi warning, we can give you a packet. >> there are not a lot of competitors for kayla right now? >> i'm not sure what other toys there might be like her.

internet actually an connected teddy bear earlier this year that does similar things were it collects information and stores it in the cloud and that was hacked earlier this year. definitely a lot of privacy concerns in terms of being able to spy on and listen to your kids but collect also their information. >> [inaudible] >> we can make it happen. she gets possessed on and off. we will give it a shot. >> you have reached the united states public research interest group, you may enter your party's extension at any time. moment.e hold a

>> i'm talking through the doll again. >> can you say something creepy? listening to i'm you. voice.have a very manly >> i can also hear everything you are saying so it also acts as a microphone. it comes to the bluetooth connection. >> kayla is watching alice and i. >> thank you all.

>> next week, the senate holds a confirmation hearing for the federal reserve chair nominee jerome powell. watch live on tuesday. >> c-span, where history unfolds daily. 1970 nine, c-span was created as a public service by america's cable companies. >> next on c-span, former white house chief strategist steve bannon talks about the fight against isis. he spoke at the dinner by the zionist organization of america in new york city. theremarks are followed by u.s. ambassador to israel. he spoke about the