Contacts:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160                      

Inhofe Places Hold on John Bryson Nomination

Announcement made today at a Press Conference with American Conservative Union and Freedom Action

Washington, D.C.-Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today placed a hold on the nomination of John Bryson to be the Secretary of Commerce.  The announcement was made at a press conference today with the American Conservative Union and Freedom Action.

  Inhofe Places Hold on Obama Commerce Nominee Bryson

"Today I am placing a hold on the nomination of John Bryson to be the Secretary of Commerce," Senator Inhofe said.  "With sky high unemployment and a struggling economy, who does President Obama choose to promote job growth?  The founder of the radical Natural Resources Defense Council, a left-wing environmentalist organization, which in the name of global warming, seeks to increase drastically the price of electricity and gasoline across America.  This is a recipe for disaster for our economy. 

"You don't hear President Obama speak about global warming lately.  He understands that his green agenda is not popular, but his choice of John Bryson to head the Department of Commerce clearly indicates that he has not given up trying to implement it.  Bryson would follow in the footsteps of Obama's green team, which included Carol Browner and Anthony Van Jones, who also supported increasing taxes on America's energy.  But with 9.2% unemployment, there is no question that the President's green agenda has failed miserably.

"On the other hand, in my home state of Oklahoma, oil and natural gas development has led to a tremendous economic boost and the creation of good paying jobs.  In fact, in the first quarter of 2011, Oklahoma's 2.5 percent growth in personal income ranked fifth in the nation.  If Bryson becomes Secretary of Commerce, economic growth in Oklahoma and across the nation could be in jeopardy, and I will be doing everything in my power to block his confirmation."

Link to ACU Press Release: Sen. Inhofe Joins ACU & Freedom Action Campaign to Defeat President Obama’s Commerce Secretary Nominee

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