Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee held a affirmation listening to for Dr. Nancy Beck, who was nominated to be a commissioner and chairman of the U.S. Shopper Product Security Fee (CPSC). Maybe unsurprisingly, Dr. Beck confronted vital skepticism from Democratic members of the committee. Nevertheless, she additionally had a tense alternate with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R, W. Va.) relating to Dr. Beck’s prior work with the Environmental Safety Company and the White Home.
Now, Capito and Senator Susan Collins (R, Maine) have introduced their opposition to Dr. Beck’s nominations. With a 14-12 Republican majority on the Commerce Committee, it’s unclear if Dr. Beck’s nominations can obtain a good vote. If the nominations are reported unfavorably, Dr. Beck may nonetheless be confirmed by the complete Senate, however, with Republicans holding simply 53 votes, the vote on the Senate ground is much from sure.
If Dr. Beck’s nominations overcome the objections of Senators Capito and Collins and she or he is confirmed, she would take the helm of the company from present Performing Chair Bob Adler (D). She would additionally shift the CPSC from its 2-2 partisan break up to its first Republican majority in additional than a decade, a majority that will be slated to run by way of October 2024, given the phrases of present Republican Commissioners Dana Baiocco and Peter Feldman.
If Dr. Beck’s nomination fails – as did these of former Commissioner and Performing Chair Ann Marie Buerkle by way of three classes of Congress – the CPSC would stay evenly divided on celebration strains, with Adler within the chairmanship, till the White Home may nominate and the Senate affirm one other nominee. Nevertheless, such a nomination and affirmation can be unlikely within the 5 months remaining earlier than the November presidential election.
© 2020 Schiff Hardin LLP
