Earlier in the month I read a piece on buying American made products. We all know that we should try to buy what is made in the United States because we can support our own economy and citizens. Many of us know that more times than not, buying what is made in the United States is more expensive because we have a higher standard of living. But this particular story surprised me.

Hershey’s candy and Colgate toothpaste are made in Mexico. Many appliance parts are made in China. Even Bounce Dryer sheets are made in Canada. No surprise there, I suppose, but as I continued to read I found out that the products with off brand names like “Everyday Value” brands are actually made in the United States; even including light bulbs. Those light bulbs were made in Cleveland and the price was less than the foreign made light bulbs. That’s amazing. We can help our fellow citizens keep their jobs and our economy going if we buy what is made in the United States.

Speaking of light bulbs, our U.S. Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act back in 2007. This act contained a subsection that banned the sale of incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012. It seems unbelievable that the sale of incandescent light bulbs would be important enough to merit a subsection in a bill. The notion that banning incandescent light bulbs and only using fluorescent light bulbs because they are better for the environment as they use less energy is unbelievable. What is not well known is the fact that fluorescent light bulbs are loaded with toxic mercury and when deposed in landfills, pollutes the environment because of seepage into groundwater, rivers and lakes.

So thinking that our light bulb freedoms were about to be taken away, and the toxic mercury pollution would be increased, our new Congress recently unveiled the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act or H.R, 91 which would repeal this subsection and restore America’s freedom of choice to buy which ever light bulb we choose. It sounds so ridiculous. It shouldn’t matter what light bulbs we buy. Our nation’s leaders seem to forget that we still have freedoms to do as we please.

“People don’t want Congress dictating what light fixtures they can use,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), one of the co-authors of the new bill. “Traditional incandescent bulbs are cheap and reliable. Alternatives, including the most common replacement Compact Fluorescent Lights or CFLs, are more expensive and health hazards, so why force them on the American people?”

I’m glad someone in Congress has some sense. Maybe this sense will spread around to others in Congress. One could only hope.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is now the author of four books. Her latest, “Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow’s Perspective” is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com.