WASHINGTON, DC – Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Ranking Member of the House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, and his subcommittee colleagues Representatives Henry Waxman, John Dingell, Edolphus Towns, Bobby Rush, and Charles Gonzalez today sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging the confirmation of Marietta S. Robison. Last week, President Obama nominated Ms. Robison to serve as Commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The Members wrote, “…since October 2010, the CPSC has been operating without a full complement of Commissioners. The CPSC cannot address its critical challenges with only four of the five Commissioners in place. The American people deserve strong protections for the products they use every day. The nomination of Ms. Robinson confirms President Obama’s confidence in her ability to provide valuable insights to the CPSC.”
The full text of the letter follows.
January 31, 2012
The Honorable Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader 522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Senate Minority Leader 317 Russell Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
Dear Leaders Reid and McConnell:
On January 23, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Marietta S. Robinson to serve as Commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We urge you to proceed expeditiously with the nomination process of Ms. Robinson so that the CPSC can resume carrying out its very important mission of protecting consumers “against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products.”
The CPSC conducts important oversight over products including household appliances, toys, furniture, fixtures, grills and pools. CPSC improved infant cribs, bath seats, and walker standards, and enhanced consumers’ ability to learn quickly about product recalls. The CPSC has a direct impact on the lives of Americans by ensuring that their everyday products are safe.
However, since October 2010, the CPSC has been operating without a full complement of Commissioners. The CPSC cannot address its critical challenges with only four of the five Commissioners in place. The American people deserve strong protections for the products they use every day. The nomination of Ms. Robinson confirms President Obama’s confidence in her ability to provide valuable insights to the CPSC.
We ask you to quickly confirm Marietta Robinson for Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We look forward to working with Ms. Robinson and stand ready to work with the full Commission on important matters involving consumer product safety.
Thank you very much.
Very truly yours,
G. K. Butterfield Henry A. Waxman John D. Dingell
Ranking Member Ranking Member Chairman Emeritus
Subcommittee on Commerce, Committee on Energy Committee on Energy
Manufacturing, and Trade and Commerce and Commerce
Edolphus Towns Bobby Rush Charles Gonzalez
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress
cc: Senator John Rockefeller
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison