President Barack Obama has chosen Anne Northup, a former Republican representative from Kentucky, to fill the last open commissioner position at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Northup served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2006. Her nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

Also awaiting Senate confirmation is Robert Adler, who was nominated for a CPSC commissioner position in May. Until his nomination, Adler had served on the Board of Directors of Consumers Union for the past 20 years. He is currently a professor in business and law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The recently passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act increased the number of CPSC commissioners from 3 to 5. Inez Tenenbaum was confirmed as chair in June.  Nancy Nord and Thomas Moore currently hold commissioner positions at the CPSC.

Senate confirmation hearings are scheduled for next Wednesday morning.—Don Mays