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. At the business meeting, the committee voted 11 to 10 to advance the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The committee also advanced the following items:

  • Committee Budget Resolution;
  • Committee Rules;
  • S.268, Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Act;
  • S.163, Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act;
  • S. 94, Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act;
  • S.310, Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Act;
  • PN 2, Nicole R. Nason, of New York, to be administrator of the Federal Highway Administration;
  • PN 80, Peter C. Wright, of Michigan, to be assistant administrator, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Environmental Protection Agency;
  • PN 78, John Fleming, of Louisiana, to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development;
  • PN 79, John L. Ryder, of Tennessee, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority; and
  • 6 General Services Administration resolutions.

To watch the full business meeting, click here.

Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“The committee will also continue to process nominations.

“We restart that process today, by considering the nominations of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; Nicole Nason to be administrator of the Federal Highway Administration; Peter Wright to be assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management; John Fleming to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; and John Ryder to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“Each of these nominees is well qualified and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to these important positions.

“I would like to say a few words about Andrew Wheeler.

“Mr. Wheeler has served as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency since April of 2018, when the Senate confirmed his nomination with bipartisan support.

“Just last week, 63 agricultural and forestry groups wrote in support of Mr. Wheeler’s nomination to be the administrator.

"They said ‘It is hard to imagine a more qualified individual for the role of EPA administrator and we respectfully request that the committee move to confirm his nomination so that he may be considered by the full Senate at the earliest date possible.’

“Mr. Wheeler has done an outstanding job leading the Environmental Protection Agency these past six months.

“I urge my colleagues to vote in support of his nomination to be the administrator.

“This morning, we will also consider legislation that enjoyed bipartisan support in the 115th Congress.

“I have already mentioned the WILD Act.

“In addition we will vote on Senator Sullivan’s Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act; Senator Capito’s Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; and Senator Cardin’s Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Act.

“Each of these bills passed our committee by voice vote in the last Congress.

“I urge all my colleagues to support passage of these bills again today.

“Last, we will consider six resolutions to approve prospectuses providing for General Services Administration leases; our committee budget resolution; and our committee rules.”

###