Click here to watch Chairman Barrasso’s remarks.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a committee business meeting.

The committee advanced the following nominations:

  • Kathleen Hartnett White, nominee to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); and
  • Andrew Wheeler, nominee to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The committee also advanced 19 General Services Administration (GSA) resolutions.

To watch the full business meeting, click here.

Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“We are here to consider two nominations and 19 General Services Administration resolutions.

“We will consider the nomination of Kathleen Hartnett White to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality.

“President Trump intends to designate Ms. White as chair of CEQ upon her confirmation by the Senate.

“Ms. White’s experience in environmental matters is broad.

“Neil Bradley, the senior vice president and chief policy officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote that Ms. White is ‘well-suited’ to serving as chair of CEQ, and has ‘wide-ranging experience relevant to the position.’

“I ask unanimous consent to enter his entire letter into the record.

“If confirmed, Ms. White will bring her extensive experience to the job at CEQ.

“I urge my colleagues to vote yes on her nomination.

“We will also consider the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Over 25 years working in the environmental field, Mr. Wheeler has proven himself to be a well-qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servant.

“Twelve of those years were spent working at this committee, as this committee’s Clean Air Subcommittee staff director and Republican staff director and chief counsel.

“We know what an invaluable contribution Mr. Wheeler will make in the protection of America’s public health and safety as deputy administrator of the EPA.

“I urge my colleagues to vote his nomination in a positive way as well.

“We will also consider 19 resolutions to approve prospectuses providing for General Services Administration leases.

“The leases will provide office space for the: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; the Department of Defense; the Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Agency for International Development; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Internal Revenue Service; Customs and Border Protection; the Department of State; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; National Institutes of Health; the Securities and Exchange Commission; and eight Department of Veterans Affairs locations.”

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