Since 2005, Chairman Waxman has investigated the dangers to children from lead in toys, jewelry, and other products. A December 2006 report released by Chairman Waxman found exceptionally high levels of lead even in products sold in the Capitol gift shops.

On July 31, 2008, Congress passed Chairman Waxman’s Lead Free Toys Act (H.R. 3473) as part of H.R. 4040, a bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This law will require immediate reductions in the amount of lead in children’s products and contains the world’s strongest restrictions on lead in children’s products.