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News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room
Monday, August 06, 2007
CPSC May Conduct Formal Business Once Again
On Friday, President Bush signed into law S. 4, Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The bill contains a provision which will extend the voting quorum of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by six months. CPSC is an independent regulatory agency responsible for ensuring product safety by promulgating rules and negotiating or forcing recalls.
CPSC lost its voting quorum in January due to a commissioner vacancy. In July 2006, Chairman Hal Stratton quit, leaving CPSC with only two of its three commissioners. By law, CPSC may conduct formal operations with two commissioners for only six months. Subsequently, its quorum had expired.
President Bush finally got around to nominating a new chairman in March. Unfortunately, his nominee was former manufacturing industry lobbyist Michael Baroody, who was later forced to withdraw his nomination after intense opposition.
Since January, CPSC has been able to negotiate recalls but has been unable to force them. CPSC has not produced a final rule in over a year. This bill should get the agency back on track. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) deserves the credit for pushing to insert this provision into the bill.
Posted by Matt Madia
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