" washington journal." join the discussion. >> congress returns from its thanksgiving recess next week. oklahoma senator releases his annual report on government waste at up press conference on capitol hill. live coverage, 11:00 a.m. eastern on c-span two. steny hoyer holds a roundtable discussion on the open right epidemic. that takes place on c-span. >> the u.s. public interest research group toy safety report finds toys are safer than ever, but warns of new products. dangers posed by toys containing lead, choking hazards, and data

collecting toys. >> good morning. and thank you all for coming. i am the consumer campaign director with the u.s. public interest research group education fund. we are a national nonpartisan 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." the message today is clear. we need to protect our consumers from dangerous toys, 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 across the countries, 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 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. we all know about the dangers posed by lead. 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. spinners. this fidget spinner that we got at target contains a whopping 33,000 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 -- 1300 parts per million of lead, which also far exceeds the limit of lead in toys. we also got down target. -- we also got that at target. november 10, target announced they are removing these products.

at first, they balked at our request to do so. 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 play with fidget spinners regardless of the label on the box. 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 revise its loose and 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

-- one thousand parts per million of the five different phthalates. we are so glad to see them ban these other five. i would like 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 internet 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. here is the problem with kayla. 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 on your kids 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. 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 are 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 golf 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 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 choke on toys that are larger than this tube. we believe that toys that are not quite balls but still clearly round 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. and still pose a hazard. 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. verboard. by a ho 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 recalled 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. e in part to these loud 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 spinners with a large amount of lead this year, to issue an official recall. what can parents do? you can go to our website, toy safety tips.org to get our report of the list of potential hazards, get the list of recalled toys. pull it up on your smartphone this holiday season. you can go to saferproducts.gov and actually report on any problems you are having with toys or other consumer products.

these are examples of toys and hazards out there. you need to be vigilant about other children's products that are out there. parents should heed the fbi's warning about internet connected toys. now, i would like to introduce dr. jarvis. dr. jarvis: i any 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. first, lead. there is no safe lead level exposer in children. -- level exposure 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 cubes, often with 200 or more magnets to a set. when more than 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 is safe for.oy 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 or explosions and may contain dangerous chemicals. make sure 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 violating 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 urge parents and consumers to make sure if they have a hoverboard in their home, to check whether they have been. recalled. we applaud u.s. on its work on tory safety. the american academy of pediatrics and other -- the consumer product safety commission government retailers and manufacturers, to protect children from unsafe product and to ensure that children are safe on holidays and everyday, thank you. >> thank you. we are happy to take any questions you all might have. >> can you go over the doll again and what kind of information you are collecting?

is it like a facebook thing, do they market it? >> i do not know about the marketing right now, but the truth is that there is much we do not know about how this information is being collected, it could in theory be used for any purpose. basically what is happening is that it is an interactive mark doll which will ask your child a number of questions such as your name, your pet? the information goes to a cloud, uploaded to a website and see actually -- there have been hackings of similar types of internet connected toys, clouds, earlier this year it happened. it is definitely a problem. >> do you have any specific cases involving criminal activity with that toy? >> with this, there is no confirmed case, but again, it has been banned in germany for privacy violations, and has so

been the subject of an official complaint to the federal trade commission, because it is -- it could violate existing children harvesting protections that we have on the books in our own country. any other questions? >> do you have anything positive to say about the toy industry? it seems that there is a lot of gloom and doom here, you do not have a warehouse full of toys that are causing problems. so is there anything positive to say about the toy industry? >> one thing we can say, over the 30 years, because the consumer product they stick commission has been enforcing child safety laws, we are certainly in as safer position and we were 30 years ago. in the regard -- in regards to the frigid spinners come out we come and the manufacturer as well as target for taking these off their shelves. but it is also important that they actually issued an official

recall. >> can answer that question as well? also with the passage of the consumer product safety improvement act of 2008, what were voluntary choice tenders before are now mandatory and products on the market need to be tested to meet the standard, for they are sold. which is what consumers that was happening before, but was not. so there are examples of things which fall through the cracks, unfortunately, but the fact that we have a much stronger system in place, means that you have unsafe toys getting into the market. -- fewer unsafe toys are getting into the market. my finger is likely thicker than intestinal tissue, but this is

what occurs when a child swallows more than one of these magnet. the magnets are so strong, that they have magnetic force through tissue, and this type of magnetic tower can rip tissue, ultimately causing areas health impact, infections and other things. what is so concerning about this, is that parents really do not at all expects the consequences of following war than one of these things. it is almost impossible for them to tell that two of the could be missing from the set. >> out of that toy get on the market? >> this is one of the products which similar to this, was first graded higher, so the argument was that at first that these are not toys, that they were general use product. but i remember in 2008 when my son was eight years old, he told

me all of his friends had them. so it was a problem. the clearly had play value, they were used like toys, as toys i children, and it was a problem, a lag in safety where the innovation of these other became -- being available the market, exceeded safety standards. it has been a complicated legal process. the consumer safety commission 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, this role was struck down by the 10th circuit. -- this rule was struck down the 10th circuit and now it has been remanded back to the cpsc and we urge the cpsc to again we issued -- re-issue a public will go that response to the 10th circuit to make sure that these products no longer again pose risk to children.

>> little boys love toys that should 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. those are issues that continue to be of concern and projectile toys, in addition, could pose potential harms to children. so when a parent or a gift giver is considering purchasing a gift, they have to really consider in addition to the age of the child, also how the child would likely play with the toys. reporter: fidgit spinners are

those sold anywhere else or are those just target? >> fidget spinners with the excessive levels of lead were, two including this one that we found at target. the other spinners we tested at other places did not exceed the limits for lead. >> the manufacturer, they were selling them but you are saying there are not selling them anymore? >> to be clear, target is not selling these on their website or at their stores, but i cannot eat to whether or not manufacturer is still making them or not. >> you spell yout name real quick? >> sure, i am mike litt. litt. >> i'm rachel weintraub with consumer federation of america. [spelling name] >> dr. lenore jarvis. with the american academy of

pediatrics. reporter: are there a lot of toys like kayla, or are there any other toys that are new on the market that will be looking more like her the future? >> so kayla represents more of what we can expect to see in terms of internet connected toys on the marketplace. >> it has 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. reporter: 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 am actually not sure what other toys there might be like her. but again, there was actually an internet connected teddy bear early this year that does similar things, where it collects information and stores it in the cloud. and that got hacked earlier this so -- and 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. >> can that happen again? she talked earlier? speaker: [laughter] we can make it happen. she gets possessed on and off. [laughter] you have reached the united states -- [inaudible] for staff directory, dial -- please hold a moment. >> i am talking to the doll again, can you hear me? >> dozen that sound crazy? [laughter] >> oh yes. how about, i'm listening to you. [laughter] [indiscernible] >> i can hear all you are saying right now. it all comes through on the bluetooth connection.

>> so kayla is watching and listening. all right, thank you all. what's that? [inaudible conversations] >> up next, remarks on the

president of the unit -- world bank. in a conversation on character and the presidency. then we bring to a women's convention in detroit.

this weekend on the c-span networks. saturday at 9:15 p.m. eastern. former presidential speechwriters from neck's into obama. sunday, how your zip code and packs her health. on book tv on c-span2. daily caller news foundation editor-in-chief christopher bedford on his book "the art of the donald." lower." "the mayf ,n american history tv saturday, penn state university history fest professor -- history professor on the u.s. capitol art and architecture. and sunday