Congress · Laws

Child Safety Protection Act

Public Law 103-267 · H.R. 965 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jun 16, 1994 · Commerce

Sponsor: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL-7)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

HouseVoice vote
SenateVoice vote

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Toy Labeling Requirements

Title II: Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety

Child Safety Protection Act - Title I: Toy Labeling Requirements - Requires warning labels on the packaging of children's toys and games with small parts, balloons, small balls, or marbles.

Establishes general labeling requirements, including that any required cautionary statement be displayed in English, in conspicuous and legible type (consistent with specified Federal regulations), and in its entirety on the principal display panel of the product's package, on any descriptive material accompanying the product, in the case of bulk sales of such product when unpackaged, on any bin, any container for retail display, and any vending machine from which the product is dispensed. Sets forth exceptions, including for products manufactured outside the United States.

Treats a balloon, ball, marble, toy, or game that is not in compliance with labeling requirements as a misbranded hazardous substance.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) preemption; (2) reporting requirements; and (3) confidentiality.

Title II: Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety - Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety Act of 1994 - Authorizes the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make grants to States, political subdivisions, and nonprofit organizations for programs that require or encourage individuals under the age of 16 to wear approved bicycle helmets.

Requires bicycle helmets to meet specified interim Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards and provides for the setting of a final standard. Considers failure to meet such a standard to be a violation of a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Competitiveness Subcommittee
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred to

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 40 actions.

Jun 16, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-267.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Jun 7, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
May 25, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
May 23, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Collins (IL) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, H. Rept. 103-500.
May 11, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 103-500 filed.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-500 filed.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
May 10, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Apr 13, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed additional conferees - from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation for consideration of secs. 201-03, 205 and 206 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Mineta, Oberstar, Rahall, Shuster, and Petri.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of the House bill, and the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Dingell, Collins (IL), Towns, Moorhead, and Stearns.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House insist upon its amendment to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Collins (IL) asked unanimous consent that the House insist upon its amendment to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
Mar 22, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate requests a conference. Appoints conferees. Hollings; Ford; Bryan; Danforth; Gorton.
FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment by Voice Vote.
Mar 9, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Collins (IL) asked unanimous consent that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment.
Nov 21, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Nov 20, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 680 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Mar 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Mar 16, 1993FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 362 - 38 (Roll No. 71).House roll call 71

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.