"When it comes to amusement park safety, parents are the ones taken for a ride when they assume all rides are subject to the same safety regulations. The unfortunate truth is that the federal government is actually prevented from taking action to keep fixed-site rides safe, leaving a gigantic ‘regulatory black hole' for park visitors, raising the risk of more serious injuries and even deaths aboard the rides," said Rep. Markey.

"Tragic accidents like the one suffered by Kaitlyn Lasitter at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom deserve investigation by the federal consumer safety agency which can develop action plans to ensure that when an accident happens, additional safety measures are implemented at similar rides across the country. Instead, right now the Consumer Product Safety Commission lacks even the authority to require park operators to share information about an accident with operators of the same ride in other states. This makes no sense whatsoever."

An existing loophole in federal law specifically prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), our nation's leading safety agency, from overseeing the safety of amusement park rides (so-called "fixed-site" rides). Last year, Rep. Markey reintroduced the National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act, H.R. 2320, legislation that would close this loophole.