President Obama has nominated former US Representative Anne Northup (1997-2007) for the last open commissioner position at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Northup is a Republican from Kentucky and holds a degree in business and economics from St. Mary’s College in Indiana. Robert Adler, who was nominated for CPSC commissioner in May along with CPSC Chairman Inez Tenebaum, is also pending confirmation. Adler is a professor in business and law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has served on the Consumers Union board for 20 years. The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to meet August 5 to consider both nominees
Prior to the appointment of Tenenbaum, CPSC operated for three years with only two commissioners (Nancy Nord and Thomas Moore). The recently passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act increased the number of CPSC commissioners from 3 to 5. With all five positions filled, the new product safety regulations stand a better chance of effective implementation.
