WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) will hold a hearing on the nominations of:
- Susan Bodine, to serve as assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Kristine Svinicki, to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (reappointment);
- Annie Caputo, to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and
- David Wright, to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
There is broad support for the different nominees testifying at today’s hearing.
Susan Bodine:
"The Environmental Protection Agency needs strong and experienced leadership. That is why I am so pleased that President Trump (intends to) nominate Susan Bodine to serve in this important position. Susan currently serves as my chief counsel at the Environment and Public Works Committee. She has extensive experience working both on Capitol Hill and in leadership at the EPA.
"Susan is committed to finding commonsense ways to protect America’s land, air, and water. In this new role, I know that she will work to help communities and small businesses comply with the law, while holding polluters accountable. I look forward to holding a hearing on her nomination.” (Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], chairman of the EPW Committee)
"I have worked with Susan over a number of years as she has had significant leadership positions in environmental law and practice. Susan is dedicated to the rule of law, a lawyer with great integrity, and she understands the critical importance of effective and timely enforcement." (John Cruden, president-elect of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and assistant attorney general, Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice [Dec. 2014 - Jan. 2017])
“I have found Susan to be fair minded, clear thinking, and strategic in her approach, as well as effective in her leadership. She has a deep understanding of EPA and the EPA-state relationship, which will equip her well to lead OECA [Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance].” (Scott Fulton, president of the Environmental Law Institute, general counsel at the EPA [Aug. 2009 - Jan. 2013]).
“In Susan Bodine you have an experienced nominee with a broad background, a keen intellect, a strong regard for public service, a history of treating her professional career colleagues with respect, an abiding commitment to the rule of law and due process, and service within the mainstream traditions of EPA. Her presence as a confirmed nominee will strengthen the voice of enforcement in the agency.” (Stanley Meiburg, acting EPA deputy administrator [Oct. 2014 - Jan. 2017]
“I have known Susan for over 20 years. I can think of no better person to lead the enforcement office at EPA. She understands the mission of the agency and the office and how important it is to protecting human health and the environment. A perfect pick.” (Marcus Peacock, EPA deputy administrator [Aug. 2005 - Jan. 2009])
“Based on my experience, Ms. Bodine possesses a strong intellect, a keen understanding of environmental law and policy, and is respectful and responsive. She is a seasoned environmental lawyer and a skilled advocate. It is also my view that Ms. Bodine’s prior service at EPA is an important – though not indispensable – factor to be considered in her nomination. Her familiarity with the agency and its talented staff would be of service to OECA and Administrator Pruitt, should she be confirmed.” (Avi Garbow, EPA general counsel [Aug. 2013 - Jan. 2017] and deputy general counsel, EPA [Sept. 2014 - Aug. 2013])
“Susan epitomizes all the best character and traits we can ask of public servants: tireless and unflappable commitment to the mission of environmental protection and promoting human health, protective of transparency and process in her decision making, objective and apolitical approach to leadership, and empowerment of career decision makers in government.” (Roger Martella, EPA general counsel [Aug. 2006 - April 2008)
“[Susan is] an experienced hand in Washington and knows how to get things done. She is very practical and looks for solutions that are going to be workable for everybody.” (Granta Nakayama, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance [July 2005 - Jan. 2009])
“[Susan] understands both the internal side of the agency and the proper balance of enforcement.” (Mathy Stanislaus, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Land and Emergency Management [June 2009 - Jan. 2017])
“Susan Bodine is extremely qualified to run EPA’s enforcement office. As a dedicated public servant with years of experience in environmental policy, she brings a vast understanding of both the agency and the community it regulates. Susan is well-suited to carry out the mission of the administration, and to protect clean air, land and water for the American people.” (Marianne Horinko, EPA acting administrator [July 2013 - Nov. 2013], EPA assistant administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response [Oct. 2001- June 2004])
“While I don't envy her challenge, I think bringing Susan back to the agency is an excellent idea. Having a familiar face back at EPA in a senior role is a plus for staff morale. Bringing in someone with her knowledge of the agency and the issues facing it can only be a positive.” (Elliot Laws, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response [1993 - 1997])
“She’s tough and fair and committed to public service. [Bodine] embodies a compliance-first approach, but also will bring enforcement actions when needed.” (Ben Grumbles, secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment [Mar. 2016 - present], EPA assistant administrator, Office of Water [Nov. 2004 - Jan. 2009])
“Susan Bodine brings a commanding intellect and a vast reservoir of experience in environmental policy to the job of running EPA’s enforcement office. The agency and the American people will benefit tremendously from her legislative, executive and legal expertise across the spectrum of air, land and water. The administration has made an outstanding selection.” (G. Tracy Mehan, III, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Water [Aug. 2001 - Dec. 2003])
“I have known Ms. Bodine for almost 20 years where she served as committee counsel to the House Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Environment and Public Works committees, and as assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. She is a dedicated public servant and is well-qualified to lead EPA’s office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance. Ms. Bodine has proved herself time and again to be fair, competent, professional and well respected by those who have had the pleasure to work with her. As an added benefit, Ms. Bodine knows EPA well and is known and respected by EPA employees.” (Cliff Rothenstein, EPA deputy assistant administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response [Apr. 1997 - June 2000])
“Many mayors, as well as my senior staff, have worked with Ms. Susan Bodine over the past 20 plus years. … Throughout these years, working with Ms. Bodine has been a real pleasure and she has been an asset in every job she has done. She is extremely thoughtful, knowledgeable and professional and has an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and public health and to do so in an economically responsible way. Her commonsense approach to environmental protection and infrastructure investment is widely respected among her peers and my mayors. While we are sorry to lose her in her current role, she would be a welcome asset at the EPA.” (Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director, U.S. Conference of Mayors)
“In her decades of experience in private practice, for Congress and EPA, Susan Bodine has proven her leadership skills and her deep understanding of our nation’s environmental laws and how they affect ordinary citizens and small businesses. She has shown leadership in working toward solutions with groups on all sides of the many controversies that entangle environmental protection.” (Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation)
“Bodine has impeccable credentials with 29 years of environmental law and policy experience garnered from leadership positions in the federal government and private sector.” (Craig Unden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and David Eliason, president of the Public Lands Council)
Kristine Svinicki:
"I want to congratulate Kristine Svinicki on her (coming) nomination to remain as chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission…The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plays an important role in making sure that American nuclear energy is safe and efficient. I look forward to quickly holding a hearing on their nominations.” (Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], Chairman of the EPW Committee)
“Her [Svinicki’s] institutional knowledge and deliberative approach will serve the commission well.” (Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], Chairman of the EPW Committee)
“I am writing in strong support of the nominations of Annie Caputo and Kristine Svinicki to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission…. We are similarly pleased with Kristine Svinicki’s nomination for another term at NRC and her designation as chair. Svinicki’s work at the NRC has resulted in improved readiness to regulate small modular and advanced reactors. Under her leadership, the agency has worked to prepare licensing infrastructure for new types of reactors that could provide enormous benefits for climate, American leadership, and domestic job creation.” (Josh Freed, Vice President for the Clean Energy Program, Third Way)
Annie Caputo:
“I also want to congratulate Annie Caputo and David Wright on their (upcoming) nominations. I am glad that President Trump (intends to) nominate such qualified leaders for these important positions at the commission. Annie serves as my senior policy advisor for nuclear issues at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Her expertise and experience in nuclear policy makes her very well qualified to serve as a commissioner at the NRC.” (Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], Chairman of the EPW Committee)
“Caputo’s work in the Senate, including her integral role in drafting and moving the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, shows her capability to aid in the NRC’s current transition to regulating both existing and advanced nuclear.” (Josh Freed, Vice President for the Clean Energy Program, Third Way)
“She [Caputo] has consistently worked with members on both sides of the aisle to promote effective nuclear regulation and is well-respected across partisan lines for her expertise, professionalism, and competence. Few people are more qualified to fill this role at the NRC.” (Josh Freed, Vice President for the Clean Energy Program, Third Way)
“It is with great pleasure that we, the Council on Radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. (CORAR), express our support for the president’s nomination of Ms. Annie Caputo to be a commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission… Ms. Caputo has always been committed to listening and understanding how nuclear policy might impact the radiopharmaceutical industry and patient care. While the manufacture and utilization of radioactive materials in healthcare is not a primary aspect of nuclear energy policy, Ms. Caputo has worked diligently to consider all perspectives and to find solutions to even the most difficult problems.” (Roy Brown, chairman of the board of the CORAR)
David Wright:
“I also want to congratulate Annie Caputo and David Wright on their upcoming nominations. I am glad that President Trump (intends to) nominate such qualified leaders for these important positions at the commission… The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plays an important role in making sure that American nuclear energy is safe and efficient. I look forward to quickly holding a hearing on their nominations.” (Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY], Chairman of the EPW Committee)
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