Awning Safety Act of 2025

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

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. 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. 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.

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.

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. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

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.

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.