Alex Hoehn-Saric

Column | Can’t put solar panels on your roof? Plug-in ‘balcony solar’ may be for you. Balcony solar promises to cut energy costs and grid reliance for renters and apartment-dwellers. I did a trial run at my home.

Portable Solar!

Excited about the technology and glad that Underwriters Laboratories is working on a safety standard. Hopefully, it will move quickly.

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Poison Prevention

Follow this link to learn more.
www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Educa...

Princess Bride Cosplay at Comic Con 2025

@cpsc.gov ensures that medications are sold in child safe packaging so that kids don't accidently swallow them. Store your iocane powder (and other meds) safely. Hat tip to Comic Con 2025.

YouTube video by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame The Mamas & the Papas - "California Dreamin'" | 1998 Induction

California Dreaming has an amazing flute solo. This is from their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (1:17), but I prefer the original. RIP Cass Elliot.
youtu.be/QMaQy_e2bsQ?...

The Court’s decision does not absolve the remaining two Commissioners of their responsibility to the American public. In fact, it raises the stakes on every decision that they make. See my full statement: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z31rh...

I am disappointed in the Supreme Court decision that has stayed the lower court decision and resulted in the removal of my Democratic colleagues and me from our seats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup Recall Certain Above-Ground Pools 48-Inches and Taller Due to Drowning Hazard; Nine Deaths Reported; Five Million Pools Sold Since 2002 Consumers should contact Bestway, Intex or Polygroup to request a repair kit. In the interim consumers should ensure that children cannot access the pool unattended or, alternatively, drain the pool u...

5 Million Bestway, Intex and Polygroup outdoor pools 48-Inches and Taller recalled. If you have an outdoor pool, please check to see if needs to be fixed. Here is the announcement:
www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025...

Water Bead Toy Final Rule Delayed: Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric Water Bead Toy Final Rule Delayed: Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric

@cpsc.gov has been working to establish water bead toy safety standards to protect infants. That rule has been inexplicably delayed. See my statement:

www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/C...

Water beads pose huge safety risk for kids, CPSC says, after 7,000 ER injuries reported The CPSC is issuing a warning over water beads for kids. They are calling on 2 companies to issue recalls and 7,000 injuries have been reported.

Water beads are a hidden danger in homes that can result in severe injuries and even death if swallowed by an infant. So small that they are easy to lose on the floor when older kids or adults use with them, only to be found later and swallowed by a crawling baby.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

YouTube video by Pool Safely Coach Nic Askew for Pool Safely

45 percent of drowning deaths for children 5 to 14 involve African Americans. Whether kids learn to swim is often tied to whether their parents swim. Past segregation made it less likely for African Americans to be swimmers. Protect your kids. Teach them to swim.

youtu.be/PD3j4xmVzzM?...

YouTube video by Pool Safely CPSC - "Pool Safely" :60 (English)

With swim season in full swing, make sure you are following the safety steps in this video. Many drownings occur in backyard pools. Be a good neighbor and make sure your pool is surround by a fence at least 4-feet tall even, if you don't have kids.
youtu.be/teyWSBanGqw?...

Reading the TV listings in the paper each morning to make sure you didn't miss your favorite show or the reairing of the movie you'd been waiting months to rewatch

Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric Regarding the Delay in Consideration of Safety Improvements for Toys with Button Cell or Coin Cell Batteries Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric Regarding the Delay in Consideration of Safety Improvements for Toys with Button Cell or Coin Cell Batteries

We can and should be doing more to protect children from button and coin cell batteries in toys. But @cpsc.gov's efforts have been delayed. See my statement.

www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/C...

Button Cell and Coin Batteries

Learn how to prevent such tragedies @cpsc.gov .

www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Educa...

Parents prepared to say goodbye after toddler swallows button battery Kasey Allen, 32, a photographer from Louisiana, told Newsweek: "My son almost died in a freak accident."

Sadly, deaths and injuries from button cell battery ingestions happen far too often.

www.newsweek.com/toddler-almo...

Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric Regarding Acting Chairman Feldman’s Unilateral Delay of the CPSC Priorities Hearing Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric Regarding Acting Chairman Feldman’s Unilateral Delay of the CPSC Priorities Hearing

To improve product safety @cpsc.gov needs to hear from the public about what we do well, how we can improve and what we should be focused on. Unnecessarily delaying our Priorities Hearing undermines CPSC's ability to advance our safety mission.

See my statement:
www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/C...

YouTube video by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Protect Ya Noggin' - We're Safety Now Haven't We

This summer, have fun on your bike and scooter but always remember to wear a helmet and other safety gear. If you need a reminder, listen to this from your friends at the @cpsc.gov.

youtu.be/MhVcvqUbsRw?...

YouTube video by Inside Edition Exploding Mannequins Show the Need for Fireworks Safety

From two years ago, but fireworks safety is just as important today. Most of the fireworks injuries we see happen in the days leading up to and after the 4th of July. Enjoy the day but be safe and avoid the emergency room.

youtu.be/2Q6WVXxxqRs?...

Happy Pride Month!

From Illinois to Utah: Firework mishaps claim lives and injure dozens this July 4th At least 4 fireworks deaths and dozens of injuries have been reported across the U.S. during this year's July Fourth celebrations.

Last year, @usatoday.com wrote about individuals who were killed and injured by fireworks around the 4th of July. Don't be featured in this year's story. Follow @cpsc.gov's safety tips and have a safe and happy holidays.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Thank you @schakowsky.house.gov for your unwavering support for consumers and for @cpsc.gov.

Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric on Reductions in Force at the CPSC Statement of Commissioner Hoehn-Saric on Reductions in Force at the CPSC

Now is the time to support CPSC staff not to reduce their numbers, which ultimately jeopardizes our safety mission and increases product safety risks to the public. That is why I voted to stop unauthorized RIFs. See my statement: cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/C...

Statement of Commissioners Hoehn-Saric, Trumka, and Boyle on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Statement of Commissioners Hoehn-Saric, Trumka, and Boyle on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

This week, the full Commission voted on the budget again. This time we submitted a request that affirms the independence of the Commission, fully funds its operations, and provides a plan to backfill staffing gaps that threaten the agency’s ability to operate. See our statement here.

That proposal was made while I and two of my colleagues were locked out of our offices after being unlawfully removed by President Trump. On June 13, a federal judge ruled those firings to be illegal and we were allowed back to work.

Last month, in what may be a first for an independent federal agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission submitted a budget request to Congress proposing its own elimination. My op-ed in The Hill talks about the devastating impact this change would have on consumer protection.

Trump Firing Consumer Product Safety Commissioners Was Unlawful - Public Citizen WASHINGTON, D.C. – A lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland challenges President Donald…

The unlawful removal of duly appointed commissioners undermines public safety and the rule of law. This suit is necessary to support the integrity of the CPSC’s work and its independence.
www.citizen.org/news/trump-f...

President Trump is attempting to illegally remove me from the CPSC. See my statement. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lad9e...

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live Consumer Probe: Irwin Mainway - SNL

A reminder for Throw-back Thursday, don’t take safety advice from just anyone. Look to @USCPC for safety guidance, not Irwin Mainway. And stay away from his Bag o’ Glass! www.youtube.com/watch?v=veMi...

On Public Service Recognition Week, I want to recognize all of the @USCPSC staff who work tirelessly on behalf of the mission. Your work saves lives. Thank you.

Thank you Trista Hamsmith, Brett Horn, and Linda Kaiser, for your tireless advocacy on product safety. You turned your personal tragedy into activism and have saved lives as a result. Thank you for sharing your stories and for your support of the work of @USCPSC