Toxic Toys: Sen. Menendez Calls For Resignation Of Head Of Consumer Product Safety Commission

Also supports overhaul approved by Senate committee

October 31, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today called on Nancy Nord, acting Chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to resign in the wake of the widespread children’s product safety concerns and her unwillingness to accept Congressional proposals to strengthen the Commission. Sen. Menendez also indicated his strong support for the bill to boost the Commission, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee yesterday.

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He released the following statement today:

“Toxic toys should never get into the hands of American children. The parents of this country have every right to be shocked and dismayed at the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s failure to keep these dangerous products away from their kids. They have every right to demand that their children not be used as a de-facto testing ground for product safety.

“It is the responsibility of Ms. Nord’s Commission to ensure that all products on the American market are safe, but years of budget and personnel cuts have rendered it ineffective. It is simply incomprehensible that, as the head of the Consumer Produce Safety Commission, Ms. Nord opposes legislation which will enable her Commission to do its job. It makes you wonder if she is looking out more for the manufacturers or the American consumers she is charged with protecting.

“It has become clear to me that Ms. Nord must resign so that the Consumer Product Safety Commission can act to protect American families from dangerous products.”

Source: Senator Robert Menendez