Consumer Product Agency under New Leadership

The Senate recently confirmed Inez Tenenbaum, President Obama’s pick to chair the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal regulator of everything from toys to toasters. Tenenbaum’s presence will likely cause a shift in the way the agency operates, including a greater focus on public protection.

The Senate confirmed Tenenbaum by voice vote on June 19. Tenenbaum is a former superintendent for education in South Carolina. She was also the co-chair of Obama’s presidential campaign in that state.

Tenenbaum has pledged to operate CPSC "in an open, transparent, and collaborative way." Testifying [1] before the Senate Commerce Committee, Tenenbaum said, "As the new Chairman, I will reassure America’s families that their government can and will protect them from unknown or unforeseen dangers in the products they use." She also highlighted the safety of imported products as an issue in need of the commission’s attention.

Tenenbaum takes the reins of CPSC at a pivotal time in the agency’s history. In addition to the challenge of regulating imported products, the CPSC is in the midst of enforcing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which was passed [2] by Congress in 2008. The bill tightens safety standards on lead in toys, all-terrain vehicles, and a class of chemicals called phthalates, which have been linked to developmental problems. CPSC’s budget has risen in recent years and is scheduled to continue to increase.

Tenenbaum follows Nancy Nord, who served as acting commissioner under President George W. Bush. Currently, Nord remains at CPSC as a commissioner.

Nord’s tenure at CPSC was checkered with controversy. For example, a November 2007 Washington Post investigation [3] revealed that Nord and former Chair Hal Stratton had taken nearly 30 trips financed by some industries that CPSC regulates. According to the investigation, "The airfares, hotels and meals totaled nearly $60,000, and the destinations included China, Spain, San Francisco, New Orleans and a golf resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C."

Nord also opposed [4] the CPSIA, even though it granted the agency greater authority to protect consumers and more resources to carry out its duties. The bill had broad bipartisan support and was hailed by advocates as a victory for consumers.

In May, Nord abdicated her position as acting chair and was replaced by fellow commissioner Thomas Moore. Moore, appointed by President Clinton, served as acting chair until Tenenbaum took over.

The CPSC will soon expand to a commission of five members. The expansion is set to occur one year from the date of enactment of the CPSIA, which Bush signed into law Aug. 14, 2008.

Obama has also nominated [5] Robert Adler to serve as a commissioner. Adler is a professor at the University of North Carolina’s business school. Before his career in academia, Adler served as legal counsel at both the CPSC and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

However, since CPSC has its full compliment of three commissioners until Aug. 14, the Senate will likely wait before considering Adler’s nomination.