Commerce, Consumer Product Safety picks pass

   The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced the nomination of Karen Dunn Kelley to be deputy secretary of Commerce by voice vote and the nomination of Peter Feldman to be a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) until Oct. 26, 2019, by a vote of 14-13.
   Feldman joins Ann Marie Buerkle as a CPSC nominee pending in the Senate.
   The Senate on Jan. 8 received the nominations for Buerkle, a sitting commissioner, to continue as a commissioner for a seven-year term starting Oct. 27, and for Buerkle to be CPSC chairman. She has served as acting chairman since Feb. 24, 2017.
   The last confirmed CPSC nominee was Dana Baiocco on May 22.
   Four commissioners currently sit on the five-seat commission.