House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Members Send Letter to Senate Leadership Urging Confirmation of Consumer Product Safety Commission Nominee


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