Waxman: House attempting to protect kids

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Two bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives are aimed at protecting American children, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said Saturday.

"The first, to reinvigorate the Consumer Product Safety Commission and strengthen its ability to assure safe toys for our children," Waxman said during the weekly Democratic radio address. "The second is legislation that provides the authority to regulate tobacco and stop tobacco companies from targeting our kids."

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said the House's actions were aimed at spurring tobacco companies and the federal safety group to ensure the safety of American youth.

"The House and the Senate passed the bill to protect our children and say that the safety commission must keep lead out of toys; ban plastic-softening chemicals, called phthalates, from the toys kids can put in their mouths; and require science, not politics or corporate interests, to guide its actions," Waxman said.