Beck Gets Nominations to Be CPSC Chairman plus Commissioner to 2025

The White House March 2 announced the nomination of Nancy Beck to be CPSC chairman. She also gets a nomination to fill the commissioner position previously held by Ann Marie Buerkle. That slot runs until 2025.

Beck's confirmation could set up a Republican majority at CPSC for the entirety of the next presidential term no matter who wins the 2020 election barring someone leaving the commission. Of course, Beck's job as chairman, if she is confirmed, would depend on the election, but she could stay regardless.

Beck has been with EPA since 2017, serving as a deputy administrator in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Before that, she was senior director of regulatory science policy with the American Chemistry Council from 2012 to 2017 preceded by 10 years as a toxicologist and analyst at the Office of Management and Budget. Earlier, she was a policy fellow with EPA and a public health advisor at the Washington State Department of Health starting in 1999.

She holds a BS in microbiology and economics from Cornell. She additionally earned an MS in environmental health and toxicology as well as a PhD in environmental health, both from the University of Washington.

Commissioners serve for staggered seven-year slots that run regardless of being filled. Once those terms are over, they can stay up to an extra year until replaced. The current tenures (extra years) end in Octobers of:

• 2020 (2021) – Elliot Kaye (D)
• 2021 (2022) – Robert Adler (D)
• 2024 (2025) – Dana Baiocco (R)
• 2025 (2026) – vacant (Beck's potential seat)
• 2026 (2027) – Peter Feldman (R).

The Washington Post last December broke the story that Beck was under consideration (PSL, 12/16/19).

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) March 3 strongly criticized (bit.ly/2VCNCdT) Beck's nomination. However, the Senate handles approvals.