For the past couple of weeks I have spent a lot of time working on behalf of the NFA and its membership in my role as NFA Secretary. Last week, over a period of three days, we held meetings in Washington, DC, with various Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill, as well as with the Commissioners and Acting-Chair of the CPSC.
The purpose of those discussions were in preparation for this week, when the CPSC will hold a hearing where various parties of the industry will be testifying on the CPSC NPR. As you know, this NPR would require consumer fireworks to test at a 0% level for the presence of powdered metals in their burst charges.
This proposed rule would have significant impacts on our businesses, as we know them today. As written, this proposed rule is not good for our industry. This issue is so much more complicated than I first thought. As I have learned more about it and have been embedded in this process, I have come to realize that this is a fight we must win if we expect our businesses to survive and thrive.
Now more than ever, we as an industry need to watch over what is happening in Washington and be united rather than divided.
I encourage you to check in with the NFA for updates on what they are doing to protect your fireworks business’ future. If you are interested, the hearing will be livestreamed on www.CPSC.gov beginning at 10 am EST on Wednesday March 7th. https://cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Multi-media/Webcast/Live-Webcast/
Let us all hope that wisdom prevails and that the future of our industry flourishes.
Stay tuned....
Steve Houser
NFA Secretary