In a move with direct impact on the promotional product industry, President Obama announced he intends to appoint Inez Moore Tenenbaum as chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the governmental agency that oversees the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The CPSIA, passed in 2008, sets limits on the amount of contaminants, such as lead, that can be contained in consumer and children's products.
Inez Moore Tenenbaum was elected South Carolina's state superintendent of education in 1998 and completed her second term in 2007. She has been known as a leading voice for the welfare of children and families. During her tenure as South Carolina's state superintendent of education, student achievement in South Carolina improved at the fastest rate in the nation, with scores increasing on every state, national, and international tests administered.
In addition, the president further announced his intention to nominate Robert S. Adler as a new commissioner at the CPSC. Adler is currently a professor of legal studies at the University of North Carolina and the Luther H. Hodges Jr. Scholar in Law & Ethics at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He has served as the associate dean of the MBA Program and as associate dean for the school’s bachelor of science in business administration program.
From the White House:
Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Inez Moore Tenenbaum as Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Robert S. Adler as a new Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Furthermore, in the President’s budget, the CPSC receives $107 million, a 71 percent increase in resources since FY 2007. This is almost three quarters of the way to meeting the President's goal of doubling CPSC’s funding.
President Obama believes strongly in the mission of the Consumer Product Safety Commission: to protect the public, especially children, from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from consumer products, including children’s products such as toys and strollers. For over fifteen years, CPSC has operated with only three Commissioners. To revitalize the agency, President Obama is going to expand the Commission later this summer, to include five Commissioners at CPSC. If confirmed, Robert Adler would fill one of these new posts. The addition of extra Commissioners is tangible evidence of President Obama’s commitment to restoring the health of the agency, and will ensure opportunity for additional viewpoints to be expressed at the top of the agency.
President Obama said, "It is a top priority of my administration to ensure that the products the American people depend on are safe. We must do more to protect the American public – especially our nation’s children – from being harmed by unsafe products. I am confident that Inez and Bob have the commitment and expertise necessary to fill these roles and raise the standard of safety. To ensure these goals are met, I will also increase the number of Commissioners at the CPSC. I am confident this new leadership at the CPSC will revitalize the agency and achieve the high standard of product safety that the American people deserve."