Article/Column

Former President John F. Kennedy once said, “Children are our most valuable natural resource.” As a father myself, I have experienced first-hand the truth of this message.

 

Nothing in this world can compare to the value of a smile on one of my children’s faces or the sparkles in their eyes when they are filled with passion.

 

Anyone who has watched a child open a gift on Christmas morning can relate to the feeling of joy in sharing his or her excitement and gratitude for what was received.

 

Unfortunately, not all parents were guaranteed the opportunity to share that positive experience on December 25th.

 

Some children may have opened presents that instead brought nausea, headaches, hearing loss, or even convulsions. These horrible reactions are only a few of many that can be caused by lead in toys.

 

The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and tragic, and every precaution should be taken in the manufacture of products intended for use by children—our most vulnerable population.

 

Last year could easily be defined as the Year of the Toy Recall. Over the summer alone, more than twenty million imported toys were recalled—many with levels of lead exceeding 200 times the legal limit.

 

From Thomas the Tank Engine cars to Spongebob Squarepants journals, the list of popular toys lining the shelves of our toy stores—and of our children’s bedrooms—is seemingly endless.

 

Despite the millions of toys recalled, however, there are still many more being sold that are putting the health of our children in harm’s way.

 

Last month, the Associated Press reported findings from a study showing that 35 percent of 1,268 toys purchased from major retail stores contained lead, many with levels far above the federal recall standard used for paint.

 

In fact, only 20 percent of the toys tested showed no trace of lead or harmful chemicals. These figures are astounding.

 

More disturbing than these reports, however, is the blatant neglect being demonstrated by the companies that manufacture these toys.

 

These are not just random toys being picked up at the dime store. Some of them are produced by long-established, reputable companies whose names parents trust, such as Fisher Price, a subsidiary of Mattel.

 

Like many other parents, I was not just buying any toy when I purchased a Fisher Price doll house for my daughters when they were young; I was paying for a brand that I trusted as being safe.

 

Last month, it came to my attention that Fisher Price is producing a toy medical kit containing a red blood pressure cuff with enough accessible surface lead to potentially put a child’s health at risk.

 

Can you imagine? A toy encouraging children to play doctor poses the risk of sending these same children to the doctor.

 

When Fisher Price was notified of the high lead content in this toy—5 times the federal standard for paint—the company did not immediately respond.

 

In fact, it was not until Fisher Price was notified that the toy was in violation of Illinois state lead regulations that any action was taken at all. The company pulled the toy off the shelves in Illinois, but it continued to sell it everywhere else.

 

Upon learning of this story, I immediately wrote Robert Eckert, the CEO and President of Mattel. I should note that Mr. Eckert had written an opinion piece that was published in the Wall Street Journal in which he responded to criticism of the recent recalls of numerous toys due to high levels of lead paint.

 

In his statement, he pledged to “face this challenge with integrity” and he reaffirmed that he “will do the right thing.” He vowed to earn back the trust of parents and consumers with deeds as well as words.

 

Continuing to sell this toy medical kit is not a good start in earning back people’s trust.

I will not stand idly by while the health of any child is put at risk.

 

In my letter to Mr. Eckert, I asked him to do two things.

 

First, I asked him to pull this medical kit off of toy shelves in every state. If this toy is not safe enough for children in Illinois, it is not safe enough for children anywhere.

 

Second, I asked him to stop using lead altogether in any product manufactured by Mattel or any of its subsidiaries.

 

I am currently in the process of circulating a follow-up letter to my colleagues in the House of Representatives to renew this request to Mattel.

 

It is my hope that Mr. Eckert will understand the gravity of this matter when he sees the level of disapproval among federal legislators regarding his company’s recent practices.

 

However, we will not hesitate to explore a legislative response that protects our children’s health if Mattel’s executives do not voluntarily do so on their own.

 

When we give our children toys, we do so to bring them joy—to see the sparkle in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. This act of giving should never bring with it the dangers associated with the ingestion of toxic chemicals.

 

I often say that our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see, and I am committed to ensuring that these messages make it to the future.