Jan's Plans & Pans - August 30, 2023

As a longtime consumer advocate, I have worked very closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is tasked with keeping the public safe from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of injury or death. In addition to its own work, the CPSC relies on online marketplaces, like Meta, to keep consumers safe by preventing the posting for sale of products that are known to be dangerous. Meta’s failure to prevent recalled products from being posted for sale on its platform has resulted in users and their children being placed at risk of purchasing and using a product that CPSC has found to pose a serious risk of injury and potential death. I am working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to ensure these dangerous products do not appear on online marketplaces. If you would like to check whether any of your products may be banned or recalled, go to saferproducts.gov.

I want to talk with you about the issue of breast density. A recent study found that only 33% of women know what dense breasts are. It turns out that dense breast tissue can make mammograms more difficult to read. Further, women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. In the coming months, mammography facilities nationwide will be required to notify women if they have dense breast tissue and recommend that they consult with a doctor about whether they need additional screening. But, I have heard from many constituents that some of these extra diagnostic tests are not covered by insurance and may cost upwards of $800. This is unacceptable. Health care is a human right and must be affordable for all. As a woman with dense breasts myself, I will continue working with my colleagues and advocates to ensure all women can access the additional screening they may need.