Bye-Bye Buerkle: CPSC Chair Withdraws Nomination
Statement of Remington A. Gregg, Counsel for Civil Justice and Consumer Rights, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division
Note: Acting Chair Ann Marie Buerkle announced that she is withdrawing her nominations to serve as chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and to serve another term at the agency. Public Citizen was the only consumer group to oppose her nomination.
Public Citizen opposed Acting Chair Buerkle’s nomination because we believed that she placed the interests of big business over consumer safety. Therefore, we agree with her decision to withdraw her nomination.
We expect a nominee with experience in consumer protection and who will prioritize it, not a corporate pawn. We urge the president to choose an acting chair, and eventually a permanent chair, who places consumer safety first.