Hal Stratton Confirmed As Chairman of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2002
Release # 02-215 		CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles (301) 504-7052

Hal Stratton Confirmed As Chairman of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Hal Stratton was confirmed yesterday as the eighth Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). He heads the federal agency responsible for protecting the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Stratton to be CPSC Chairman and the U.S. Senate confirmed him on July 25, 2002. He will serve a term that expires in October of 2006.

"It's an honor to be chosen by the President to serve as Chairman of this very important Commission," Stratton said. "I look forward to working with the other Commissioners and staff toward making the market a safer place for consumers," Stratton concluded.

Mr. Stratton is an attorney and served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1979 through 1986 and as New Mexico attorney general from 1987 through 1990. He has had a private law practice in Albuquerque since 1991. In his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Stratton said, "It is my sincere commitment to serve on the CPSC with integrity, fairness, and with independent, unbiased judgment as Chairman of this very important independent Commission." He continued, "The Commission's actions can affect the safety of every consumer in America, particularly those who are most vulnerable and hard to reach, such as the elderly and our children."

Mr. Stratton mentioned three topics of importance to CPSC's mission: improving information-sharing with other agencies; enhancing communications with consumers, especially seniors, parents, and people who do not speak English as their first language; and improving oversight of imported products.

CPSC is an independent regulatory agency with jurisdiction over approximately 15,000 types of consumer products, such as coffeemakers, toys, lawnmowers, and fireworks. The Commission gathers injury and death data, tests products, develops safety standards, and announces recalls of hazardous products. CPSC has 480 employees and a budget of approximately $56 million.

Mr. Stratton was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma School of Law. After law school, Mr. Stratton served in the U.S. Army and then moved to Albuquerque. In 1978, he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives where he served on the Judiciary, Energy and Natural Resources, and Transportation committees. In 1986, he was elected as Attorney General of New Mexico.

Mr. Stratton is married and has two daughters, ages 7 and 2. Noting that his children have made him sensitive to child safety, Mr. Stratton said, "With two young daughters, I think of consumer product safety every single day."