Consumer Product Safety Act Authorization Act
Public Law 95-631 · S. 2796 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 10, 1978 · Commerce
Sponsor: Sen. Wendell Ford (D-KY)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Warren Magnuson
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to extend its authorization of appropriations through fiscal year 1981.
Provides that the chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advise and consent of the Senate.
Directs the Commission to specify the period of time in which it or the offeror will develop a proposed regulation.
Sets forth a new standard-setting procedure for the development of a consumer product safety standard. Lists specific criteria under which the Commission may proceed (in the place of an offeror of a safety standard) with the development of a standard. Requires the Commission to comply with the same regulations concerning notice, opportunity for participation by interested parties, and detailed recordkeeping, that are required when an outside offeror develops a standard.
Specifies that the reasons for not publishing a proposed consumer product safety standard, which the Commission is required to publish in the Federal Register, may include a statement that the Commission is considering other approaches, including a voluntary consumer safety standard adopted by persons who would be subject to such standard.
Permits the Commission, upon the determination that an existing standard would eliminate or reduce the unreasonable risk of injury associated with a product, to publish such existing standard, in whole or in part, or a combination of standards, as a proposed consumer product safety rule.
Requires exporters to give the Commission advance notice of the shipment of any product which does not conform with an applicable safety standard in effect under this Act or is declared to be a banned hazardous substance under provisions of this Act.
Amends the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to allow the Commission to use a closed cup test in determining the flammability of a substance.
Directs the Commission to establish a Toxicological Advisory Board to advise the Commission on precautionary labeling for hazardous substances.
Requires the Commission to conduct a study of the rules which the Commission has issued and report to Congress within 18 months on such study. Specifies the material to be covered by such study, including the economic, paperwork, and judicial impact of each rule.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Nov 10, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-631.
- Oct 30, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 15, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 14, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Aug 4, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 15, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Mar 23, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.