Last year, reports of toy recalls — from such perennial favorites as Barbie to Thomas the Tank Engine — filled the news. Some products contained lead paint; others had small parts that could be swallowed by young children.

Since then, Congress has been trying to beef up the federal agency that oversees toy safety, the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Senate is now considering a measure, sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), that would all but ban lead in toys and give the agency more money for testing and enforcement.