Schakowsky Sends Letter to President Opposing Possible Nomination of Dr. Charnley to the CPSC

Letter

The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

As Members of Congress concerned with protecting consumers from product health and safety hazards, we are writing in regard to recent press reports that have indicated that your administration may nominate Dr. Gail Charnley as the new Chairperson of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We would strongly ooppose this nomination and urge you instead to nominate a candidate with strong consumer protection credentials to this critical post.

There is ample evidence that Dr. Charnley has often looked out for industry at the expense of consumers. For example, she has opposed tougher restrictions on power-plant emissions in Illinois on behalf of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a nonprofit group funded by utilities, railroads and mining companies. In 2003, she co-authored a study that questioned the harmfulness of human exposure to pesticides - a study that had been funded by pesticide makers. Dr. Charnley also worked as a consultant for the tobacco industry, preparing reviews critical of EPA studies on the risks of second-hand tobacco smoke - hardly a credential of someone tasked to look out for the public health.

Recent recalls of lead-tainted toys, cribs and play yards have underscored the need for strong leadership at the CPSC. We are particularly concerned that the Commission has not acted in timely fashion to remove unsafe children's products from the market, resulting in the deaths of infants and children that might have been prevented. The CPSC needs a Chairperson who will vigorously protect Americans from dangerous products and restore the public's confidence in the agency. Dr. Charnley's history of working for industries which have a documented history of harming the public health make her unfit for the position.

We have make it a top priority to improve product safety and to push the CPSC to be more energetic in protecting consumers, and urge you to nominate a candidate who will do the same.

Sincerely,
Jan Schakowsky
Henry Waxman
Diana DeGette
Rosa DeLauro

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