Tenenbaum appears before the U.S. Senate

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Former S.C. schools superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, who has been nominated by President Barack Obama to head the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is answering questions before a Senate panel this morning.

Tenenbaum will need senators to confirm her nomination. She has the support of both of South Carolina's Republican senators. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced Tenenbaum at this morning's hearing on Capitol Hill. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint is on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and he said he will work to get Tenenbaum confirmed.

"I am pleased to have the support of my home state's senators," Tenenbaum said.

In early questioning, Tenenbaum assured senators she could improve morale at an agency that has been cut under President Bush and criticized for not doing enough to protect American consumers.

Tenenbaum said she would work with Congress to do more to protect American consumers from such dangers as lead-tainted toys and lead-tainted drywall that is manufactured in China.

Tenenbaum said her experience as the state's schools chief has prepared her to take over another agency dealing with budget cuts and charged with implementing complex legislative rules.

-- From staff reports

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Tenenbaum appears before the U.S. Senate

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