[Pages H2854-H2855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AWNING SAFETY ACT OF 2025

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1767) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
promulgate a mandatory consumer product safety standard with respect to 
retractable awnings.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1767

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Awning Safety Act of 2025''.

     SEC. 2. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARD FOR RETRACTABLE 
                   AWNINGS.

       (a) Consumer Product Safety Standard Required.--Not later 
     than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate, 
     under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, a final 
     consumer product safety standard for fixed and freestanding 
     retractable awnings within the jurisdiction of the Commission 
     to protect against the risk of death or serious injury 
     related to the hazards associated with such awnings, 
     including the risk of death or serious injury related to the 
     awning unexpectedly opening and striking a person while 
     removing the bungee tie-downs for the cover of the awning.
       (b) CPSC Determination of Scope.--The Consumer Product 
     Safety Commission shall specify the types of retractable 
     awning devices within the jurisdiction of the Commission that 
     are within the scope of subsection (a) as part of a standard 
     promulgated under this section, as reasonably necessary to 
     protect against hazards associated with retractable awnings.
       (c) Treatment of Standard.--A consumer product safety 
     standard promulgated under subsection (a) shall be treated as 
     a consumer product safety rule promulgated under sections 7 
     and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056 and 
     2058).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material in the Record on this particular bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1767, the Awning Safety 
Act of 2025, led by my good friend, Representative Balderson.
  This legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
establish a consumer product safety standard for retractable awnings to 
help prevent serious injuries and deaths.
  Motorized awnings pose a known hazard to the public, so the CPSC 
issued a recall covering 270,000 units following reports of injuries 
and one tragic death unfortunately. These preventable incidents occur 
when the tie-downs on the awning unexpectedly release, causing the 
awning to strike the consumer.
  Coming from the State of Florida, I know how important this is, and I 
know how popular awnings are, but they have to be safe for consumers. 
Consumers should not have to fear that their awning might suddenly 
spring open and cause harm. This bill will make sure they won't have 
that problem.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill. I 
commend the primary sponsor, my good friend, Mr. Balderson, from the 
great State of Ohio.
  H.R. 1767 should be passed by this body and sent over to the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1767, the Awning 
Safety Act.
  In 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of 
270,000 motorized awnings sold in the United States that had caused six 
injuries and, tragically, one death. While I commend the CPSC for 
taking action to protect Americans from this hazardous product, we must 
do more to ensure that awning products available to consumers are safe, 
regardless of brand or manufacturer. American families should be able 
to enjoy the shade without fear of injury or death from the awning that 
they use.
  Now, the Awning Safety Act would require the CPSC to create a safety 
standard for fixed and freestanding retractable awnings. While the CPSC 
has taken action through individual recalls on occasion, there is no 
voluntary or mandatory standard to these awnings, and injuries continue 
to mount.
  In 2023, Dr. Michael Hnat was the father of a former committee 
Republican staffer, and I believe that she is in the gallery today with 
her mother. Dr. Hnat was tragically killed as the result of an accident 
involving a retractable awning. We must act to ensure that other 
American families do not suffer a similar tragedy because of problems 
with retractable awnings.
  However, compliance with this bill depends on the existence of a 
strong, bipartisan, and independent CPSC to protect Americans from 
unsafe products. At the same time as my Republican colleagues praise 
this bill, they have continued to remain silent on President Trump's 
willingness to risk the safety of American children and families by 
attempting to unlawfully remove Democratic CPSC commissioners and 
planning to eliminate the CPSC altogether.
  I am pleased a district court recently upheld the law and reinstated 
the Democratic commissioners to their posts, but the Trump 
administration is

[[Page H2855]]

fighting that ruling. I remain deeply concerned about this 
administration's attempt to eradicate the independence of the CPSC and 
other independent agencies like the CPSC.
  I also strongly oppose the Trump administration's ongoing plans to 
fold the CPSC's mission into the Department of Health and Human 
Services with a smaller budget, fewer expert staff, and a narrower 
mission.
  American consumers deserve to have peace of mind that the products 
they bring into their homes are safe. I commend Representatives Castor 
and Balderson for their work and leadership on this issue. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 1767, the Awning Safety Act, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).
  Mr. BALDERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bilirakis for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Awning Safety 
Act, which aims to enhance the safety of awnings commonly found in Ohio 
homes and households across the Nation.
  A retractable awning can serve as a valuable source of shade and a 
gathering spot for families and friends. However, they can pose a 
significant risk to consumers.
  This legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
establish safety standards for fixed and freestanding awnings typically 
installed in homes.
  My Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues and I learned of the 
serious risks surrounding awnings when tragedy struck the family of 
Olivia Shields, a staff member of the committee at the time.
  As Ranking Member Pallone said, she and her family are in the gallery 
today. Her father, Michael Hnat, was carrying out a routine household 
task of taking down the retractable awning from the family home in 
Ohio. He was on the ladder when the spring-loaded arm of the awning 
unexpectedly shot out at him, forcing his ladder to tip and causing him 
to fall. Michael suffered a severe spinal cord injury, and despite 
efforts to save him, he tragically passed away a few days later.
  His passing affected his family profoundly and reverberated 
throughout the communities he touched.

  Michael was renowned for his kindness, generosity, and selflessness, 
often going above and beyond to help others in need. He was a devoted 
family man, cherished husband to Jill, and loving father to their 
children, Annaliese, Olivia, Abbey, Seamus, Emma; his sons-in-law; and 
his grandchildren.
  Michael's untimely death underscores the importance of ensuring the 
safety of household products like awnings, and by passing this 
legislation today, we can prevent further tragedies.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, obviously, this is an important bill from a 
consumer safety point of view. I urge all my colleagues to support it, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this particular 
piece of legislation in memory of Dr. Michael Hnat, a cherished part of 
the Energy and Commerce Committee family, who tragically lost his life, 
as has been said, in an awning accident. I thank his family for joining 
us here today.
  Mr. Speaker, let's pass this good bill in his memory, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1767.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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