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Legislators

Senators File Amicus Brief to Protect Independence of Consumer Product Safety Commission

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) led 26 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief to preserve the independence of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The move comes in response to President Trump's illegal firing of the CPSC's three Democratic Commissioners, Mary Boyle, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, and Richard Trumka. The brief argues that the president's actions undermine the CPSC's ability to fulfill its Congressional mandate to protect Americans from unreasonable injury risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The amicus brief, filed by Senators Klobuchar, Cantwell, Blumenthal, and Wasserman Schultz, along with 22 other members of Congress, argues that the President's actions to remove the Democratic Commissioners from the CPSC are illegal and undermine the agency's independence.
  • The brief highlights the importance of the CPSC's independence, citing the agency's 53-year history of putting consumer safety first and preventing harm to Americans.
  • The President's actions are seen as a threat to public safety, as the amici warn that without the CPSC's independence, dangerous products will continue to endanger children's lives and more families will risk horrible accidents.
  • The brief details how maintaining the CPSC's independence is critical to fulfilling its Congressional mandate to protect Americans from unreasonable injury risk.
  • The amicus brief was filed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Robin K. Kelly (D-IL), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Norma Torres (D-CA).
  • The brief was also supported by organizations including Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumers League.

Statistics:

  • Over 50 years, the CPSC's independence has enabled it to keep dangerous products out of American homes and protect children from preventable harm.
  • Last year alone, the Commission recalled 153 million unsafe items.
  • The CPSC has a 53-year history of putting consumer safety first and preventing harm to Americans.
  • The brief highlights that the President's actions to remove the Democratic Commissioners from the CPSC are illegal and undermine the agency's independence.

Sources:

  • U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, * "Klobuchar, Cantwell, Blumenthal, Wasserman Schultz, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Urging Circuit Court to Protect the Independence of the Consumer Product Safety Commission"* (Washington, DC, September 2, 2022).
  • Consumer Federation of America.
  • National Consumers League.

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