Ann Marie Buerkle Elevated To Serve As Acting Chairman of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ann Marie Buerkle, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2013 to serve as a Commissioner at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), was named Acting Chairman of the agency on February 9, 2017.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead CPSC as Acting Chairman as the agency transitions under a new Administration,” said Ms. Buerkle.

“I thank Elliot Kaye for his service as our Chairman. His contributions to our agency and to safety, especially in the area of brain safety in youth sports, have been invaluable. I appreciate his friendship and support and I am so pleased he will continue to serve on the Commission. I look forward to continuing to work with him, as well as Commissioners Robert Adler, Marietta Robinson, and Joseph Mohorovic, in executing CPSC’s mission,” added Ms. Buerkle.  

“While we are experiencing a change in leadership, CPSC’s mission remains the same and I look forward to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders in my new position,” said Ms. Buerkle. “The work we do at CPSC is so important and we are a far better agency when we collaborate and recognize the contributions of everyone who wants to help us advance our mission.”

“I will work to enhance relationships so that CPSC can leverage the knowledge, insight, and expertise of the entire consumer product safety community. We are all consumers and what we do at CPSC impacts the lives and livelihoods of all Americans. If we take a thoughtful, collaborative approach, we will impact the culture of product safety in a positive and meaningful way.”

Prior to joining the CPSC, Ms. Buerkle represented Upstate New York’s 25th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her time in Congress, Ms. Buerkle served on the Oversight & Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. She served as Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health. While in Congress, Ms. Buerkle was also appointed by President Obama to serve as a United States Representative to the 66th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

While in Congress, Ms. Buerkle strived to work across party lines on policies that would improve the nation’s economy, reduce wasteful government spending, provide tax relief to the middle class, and ensure veterans had access to the resources and care that they earned.

Prior to being elected to Congress, Ms. Buerkle was appointed, in 1997 by then Attorney General Dennis Vacco, as an Assistant New York State Attorney General representing the State of New York on behalf of Upstate Medical University, a role she held for 13 years.

Ms. Buerkle graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1972 and in 1977 she graduated from Le Moyne College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. In 1991, Ms. Buerkle attended Syracuse University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1994.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Buerkle has six grown children and seventeen grandchildren.