Slow Chinese drywall response sparks resignation

WASHINGTON – May 29, 2009 – Nancy Nord, acting chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is stepping down following criticism about the Commission’s slow response to toxic drywall problems.

Nord informed staff in an e-mail. Fellow Commissioner Thomas Hill Moore will become the new acting commissioner pending approval of a new chair confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Nord plans to continue serving as a commissioner.

President Barack Obama unofficially announced his pick for the chairmanship, Inez Moore Tenenbaum, earlier in the month.  Obama also plans to expand the number of commissioners from three to five.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson previously called for Nord to step down based on the CPSC’s slow response to the Chinese drywall problem. In a Senate hearing last week, the CPSC promised to step up its response, and said it plans to spend $2 million to conduct testing.

Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune, May 28, 2009

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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