On Tuesday evening, the United States Senate confirmed Richard Trumka Jr. to a seven-year term on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by voice vote. Mr. Trumka Jr. will replace long-time Commissioner Bob Adler whose term expired last month. Importantly, with Mr. Trumka Jr.’s confirmation, the Commission will remain comprised of two Democratic (Hoehn-Saric and Trumka Jr.) and two Republican (Baiocco and Feldman) Commissioners. The Democrats will not have a majority on the Commission until current Biden nominee (and CPSC Executive Director) Mary Boyle is confirmed by the Senate—and the status of that nomination remains unclear.
Mr. Trumka Jr. comes to the CPSC from Capitol Hill where he last served as General Counsel and Staff Director at U.S. House Oversight Committee, Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee. Like his recent predecessors, he is knowledgeable and well-versed in consumer product safety law and the activities of the CPSC and its sister safety agencies (e.g., NHTSA, EPA, FDA). In fact, at his confirmation hearing in July, Mr. Trumka Jr. highlighted his past safety work on car seats; baby food products; youth vaping; talc Baby Powder; and pet products, along other product categories. His testimony can be found here. Mr. Trumka Jr. also has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. We look forward to working with Mr. Trumka Jr. and his staff over the coming years.
A brief word about Commissioner Bob Adler. My journey as a product safety lawyer began just a few months prior to Adler’s confirmation as Commissioner on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission—back in August 2009. In a city where politicians and political appointees come and go, Commissioner Adler has remained the one constant at the Commission over the course of my career in the product safety field. I have always valued and respected his perspective; his commitment to the mission of the agency and to public service; and deep knowledge and understanding of administrative law. I particularly enjoyed working with Commissioner Adler and his staff on an ICPHSO panel a few years ago that highlighted the history of the Agency. With his pending departure from the Commission, I, along with our firm’s product safety team, wish Bob congratulations on his retirement and salute him for his lifelong service and commitment to the American consumer.