There's still time to Stop the Globilization Act of 2008

Congress may still be on it's summer sabbatical it won't be long before work begins again in full swing. In a Presidential election year, all politicians are out to prove something, and this year is no exception. So if you want to be heard about something - now is the time to do it.

The FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is draft legislation which, if put into action, would impose such enormous fees on small cosmetic businesses - like Celtic Chairde Creations - that many of them would go out of business. This would mean fewer choices for you, the consumer, and higher prices from those choices you do have. But there are things you can do to keep this draft from going any further.

1) Sign the petition. If you go to the Indie Business Blog, you can sign the petition and joins hundreds of others in opposing the Globalization Act of 2008.

2) Write your Congressmen and Senators. Below is a sample letter that you can use, also from the Indie Business Blog:
Dear Representative [or Senator] Name:

I own a small cosmetics business in [state] and I am writing to you because I am familiar with your commitment to small businesses in our state. The draft discussion of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is now being marked up in the House Energy & Commerce Committee and I am strongly opposed to it.

The stated purposes of the draft law are to provide FDA with funding and to protect consumers. But cosmetics have a stellar safety record and there is no need to pass laws that would hurt small businesses while offering no safety benefits consumers.

If passed, the new law would impose fees on my business of from $2,000 to $12,000 per year and require me to comply with burdensome paperwork and manufacturing requirements that no small business can afford.

I write to ask you to vote against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 when the time comes. At a time when small and family businesses like mine are dealing with increased shipping and materials costs, as well as increases in consumer prices, it is unfair and unnecessary to enact new laws that would put small businesses out of business. Please refer to a Petition that a trade group I belong to [am familiar with] has prepared to help spread the word. At the link, you can watch a short video, read the Petition and then read the comments of literally thousands of people across the nation, many in our state, who oppose this new law.

I would like to request a short telephone conference call meeting with a staffer in your office who handles important issues affecting small businesses. Please call or email to let me know who to contact about this urgent issue.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[signed]


Most businesses have started out small, with a dream for something bigger and a desire to provide something unique for customers. This legislation, if passed, would kill more than small business owners dreams, it would kill a part of the American Dream.

Celebrate your Freedom... and Stop the Globilization Act of 2008

The Fourth of July is a time when we think of barbecues and beaches, fireworks and family, the birth of our country and the freedoms that we have. I love the Fourth of July. But this year, even more than others, I can't help but think about the people that have helped make our country great.

My one set of grandparents were from Poland. They came to America to escape the Nazi's (something my great grandparents weren't fortunately enough to do). They came to participate in the opportunity this country had to offer. My grandfather opened a bakery, a rather successful one at that. What better way to celebrate the freedoms he had in America that he didn't have in Poland.

My other grandparents were first generation Americans. Their parents had come from

Hungary on my grandfathers side and Ireland on my grandmothers side. My greatgranpa Stephen owned a bar in Perth Amboy for years. My other great grandfather worked the trolley in Philadelphia. Again, they were here for the OPPORTUNITY this country had to offer.

Why do I keep mentioning opportunity? Because that is truly what America is about. And it is what we must fight to maintain. Government, no matter how well meaning, often creates rules and regulations that take away opportunities from business - particularly small business. That's what's happening right now, with the Globalization Act of 2008.

Below is information from the Indie Beauty Network blog. Please take a moment to read it and go to the blog to sign the petition. This proposed legislation would cripple so many small businesses, like Celtic Chairde Creations. And not just small handmade beauty product companies, but small farm markets and grocers as well.

So while you are celebrating this fine countries birth, remember the opportunities we have, and how many small businesses you deal with. And remember we need to be ever mindful to keep both to remain the strong, wonderful country that we are.



This video summarizes the Indie Beauty Network's position against the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the legislation that would put thousands of Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

If passed, this law would drive consumers back to the days when they could only choose between a few huge, faceless, nameless big box stores and brands for their cosmetics and personal care products. And fewer consumer choices always leads to higher prices.

Tell Congress you want none of it by reading this Petition and then leaving your comment below as your signature to the Petition opposing the draft law.

Petition

We are the owners of small cosmetics companies, and the customers who love their products.

We understand that laws must be in place to protect everyone from unsafe products, but we are outraged by the Draft Legislation that would require small cosmetics companies to pay thousands of dollars a year in registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork that would serve only to put them out of business.

If passed the legislation would deny thousands of families the ability to earn an honest living, and also deprive consumers of the variety of cosmetics and personal care products available to choose from.

We oppose this law and condemn any companies that support it as being interested only in creating an unlevel playing field where small and family owned businesses will be forced from the marketplace before they even get a chance to start out.

We urge you, as our representatives in Congress, to stop this law which would serve only to make it even harder for families to support themselves. We call instead for a real and meaningful discussion about how Congressional goals can be accomplished without enacting unfair laws that make it impossible for small businesses to survive.

In signing this Petition, we formally request that the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 be marked up so that the legitimate concerns of small businesses and the consumers they serve can be translated into reasonable laws that protect consumers without also killing small businesses by making them pay unfair fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

We sincerely thank you for your time.

Spread the Word!

Please feel free to post the video at your blog, myspace page, website and anywhere else it can help spread the word against this anti-small and anti-family business legislation.

Please send your customers and colleagues to this blog post to sign this Petition so we can easily keep count of the number of signatories.

After you sign the Petition by leaving your name and comments in the comments section below, you could even cut and paste the Petition text and send it to Virgil Miller at virgil.miller@mail.house.gov. Mr. Miller is a Professional Staff Member with the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Our goal is to collect 100,000 signatories to present to Congress. Support small businesses! Support a vibrant marketplace! Make Your voice count!