Recent legislation from Congress has mandated billions of dollars in excess costs for business to test clothing to ensure that it doesn’t contain lead—in spite of zero evidence of a child having ever been poisoned by his clothes. The only exceptions to the regulation are clothes free from closures, zippers, buttons, snaps or embellishments.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and his fellow members of the Commerce Committee refuse to revisit the law, as they proudly protect kids from the presence of lead in any product made for their use. Marie Antoinette would be proud of their “Let them wear T-shirts” logic.

In the meantime, parents who rely on thrift- and resale shops to outfit and equip their kids are slowly but surely being deprived of their options. Resale shops across the country are discontinuing the resale of children’s clothing and toys for fear of being sent to prison for selling one of these “banned, hazardous” items. Even families holding a yard sale to sell these products are subject to the penalties of the law.

Is this what Congress intended? I think not. Then why won’t they admit they’re wrong and amend the law?

HANNAH KERKSIEK
Salt Lake City