Senate Weighs Tech Forward CPSC Nominees as Consumer Safety Challenges Evolve

On June 24, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a nomination hearing that included U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) nominees Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions. The hearing focused on the nominees’ priorities for the agency and their views on key policy and operational issues facing the Commission, including the use of data for evidence-based decision making, the use of AI in consumer products, and the role of technology and analytics in modernizing the agency.  

Mr. Brien Lorenze currently serves as Executive Director of the CPSC, where he manages the agency’s regulatory portfolio, oversees efforts to identify and reduce hazards, and works to implement a data first approach to enforcement. Lorenze previously worked in data analytics and held senior roles within government, including as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.  

Mrs. Karen Sessions has background in both the private and public sector and is currently serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Sessions previously served in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and City Commissioner & Vice Mayor of Winter Park, Florida. She has 30 years of private sector experience, where she oversaw policy for emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, drones, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT).  

Mr. Lorenze and Mrs. Sessions would, if confirmed, be filling vacancies for 7-year terms that are already underway. If confirmed, Lorenze will serve out remainder of a term that ends in October 2031, and Sessions will finish a term that ends in October 2032. 

In his testimony. Mr. Lorenze highlighted some of his key successes during his tenure as Executive Director of the CPSC as foundation for his three top priorities if confirmed, which were:  

• Addressing hidden and complex hazards that are notreasonably identifiableby consumers, particularly those stemming from design flaws, manufacturing defects, or other hazards that require specializedexpertiseto detect; 
• Strengthening the CPSC’s use of data, analytics and technology to improve early hazard detection, enhance enforcement, and shift the agency from a reactiveapproachto a more preventative approach; and 
• Ensuring the CPSC keeps pace with innovation and emerging product risks associated withnew technologies, advanced materials, connecteddevicesandenergy-storagesystems.

Mrs. Sessions’ similarly emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges facing the Commission, including an increasingly complex global supply chain, the growth of eCommerce marketplaces, and the expanding range of emerging and new products entering American homes at an accelerating pace.  

Questions from the Committee touched on a variety of themes, including President Trump’s May 2025 removal of three Democratic CPSC Commissioners before their terms ended, which prompted lengthy ongoing legal challenges. During the hearing, Senator Baldwin (D-WI) expressed concerns regarding whether the nominees would exercise independent judgement in fulfilling their responsibilities, rather than taking any direction from the White House. Both Mr. Lorenze and Mrs. Sessions affirmed that, if confirmed, they would utilize their independent judgements on matters that come before the Commission.  

The Committee’s questions also focused on the growing complexity of the consumer product marketplace, including rapidly evolving technologies that have transformed how Americans purchase consumer products and created new challenges for consumer safety regulators. Both nominees emphasized the importance of leveraging data and technology. Sessions underscored the need for modernized tools and data-driven risk assessments to carry out targeted inspection enforcement based upon current standards. Lorenze highlighted recent achievements in the Agency’s real-time data collection efforts, including significantly improving the access to real-time death certificate data following incidents, reducing Agency processing time of data, from months to minutes, as well as leveraging AI to drive a 208% increase in product takedowns to remove dangerous products from our ecosystem.  

Closing with inquiries on emerging technology in products, Committee Chairman Cruz (R-TX) questioned Mr. Lorenze on whether, in his experience as Executive Director, the CPSC should focus primarily on the physical components of products, even when those products incorporate AI, such as AI powered lawn mowers and toys. Mr. Lorenze agreed, emphasizing that the Agency’s authority remains grounded in physical hazards and injuries. At the same time, he noted that the CPSC is expanding its use of data analytics to identify emerging safety signals and assess whether AI-enabled features may contribute to physical harm.  

Following the nomination hearing, Senators have until close of business on June 26 to submit any additional questions for the record to which the nominees will have until close of business on June 30 to respond. RILA will continue to monitor and share additional developments and updates with members as they become available.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Luisa Lobo if you have any questions regarding the nominations hearing or RILA’s Consumer Products Committee.