Monday July 27, 2026

Senate Commerce Committee Advances Lorenze & Sessions Nominations

The Senate Commerce Committee July 22 voted 15-13 to favorably report the CPSC nominations of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions. Full Senate consideration still is needed for final approval. The negatives involved Democrats' concern about lack of CPSC nominees from their party. Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) also voiced disagreement with the dismissals last year of the three Democratic commissioners, whom she called "duly appointed." There was no other discussion of them other than Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) saying that he supported the nominations.

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Cantwell's points echoed those made in a July 21 letter (bit.ly/44JaiLK) to her and Cruz from Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, and 29 others. They framed a mono-partisan CPSC as harmful to the past "layer of oversight and accountability on CPSC actions" that minority-party members can provide. They also wrote:

"Diverse perspectives and transparency improve safety. Silencing the voices of subject matter experts with whom the President politically disagrees or who may not serve his financial interests can have a chilling effect on the CPSC's functions. The President's assertion of control over CPSC commissioners has eliminated the transparency provided by minority commissioners and the independence of those who remain."

On independence, they warned of conflict of interest if – as is the case now – a president or that person's family have stakes in companies that CPSC regulates. That concern was a theme in March piece by fired Commissioner Alexander Hoehn-Saric in The Regulatory Review (PSL, 3/16/26).

At their confirmation hearing (PSL, 7/6/26), Lorenze and Sessions both replied to a question from Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) that they would use "independent judgement" versus taking directives from the White House.

The CPSA limits to three the number of commissioners from a political party. The confirmations of Lorenze and Sessions would give Republicans a 3-0 monopoly.