WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), sent a response to committee ranking member Tom Carper (D-DE) regarding the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Mr. Pruitt’s nomination is scheduled for a vote during a committee business meeting on Wednesday Feb. 1 at 10:45 AM. 

In the letter, Barrasso emphasized the very thorough confirmation process that Attorney General Pruitt has had. “The committee’s review of Attorney General Pruitt’s nomination has been unparalleled in its scrutiny, thoroughness, and respect for minority rights. Attorney General Pruitt has answered more questions than any past EPA administrator nominee. He has been comprehensively vetted and has demonstrated his qualifications to lead the EPA.”

Barrasso also noted Carper’s own words regarding political delays during confirmation hearings. “In 2013, you made a prescient prediction during the committee’s first business meeting to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy to be EPA Administrator. You said: ‘Someday there will be a Republican president. Someday the Republicans are going to be in the majority in the Senate. And that Republican president is going to have his or her cabinet in place. I think you could nominate a governor or the president nominates good people, honest people, hard-working people, they ought to get at least a vote. They ought to get a vote, and I think they ought to get our support.’”

Read the full letter here.

 

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