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 nominations hearing titled, “Hearing on the Nominations of Mary Bridget Neumayr to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality and John C. Fleming to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.”
The hearing featured testimony from Mary Bridget Neumayr, nominee to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality. Neumayr currently serves as chief of staff of the Council on Environmental Quality. The hearing also featured testimony from John C. Fleming, nominee to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Fleming currently serves as deputy assistant secretary for Health Technology Reform at the Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information on witness testimony click here.
Senator Barrasso’s remarks:
“Today, we will consider the nominations of Mary Bridget Neumayr to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality, or CEQ, And John C. Fleming to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
“Both nominees are well qualified and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to these critical roles.
“I applaud President Trump’s nomination of these accomplished and devoted public servants.
“The president has nominated Mary Neumayr to be a member of the Council on Environmental Quality.
“Upon Senate confirmation, President Trump intends to designate her as chairman of the council.
“Congress established CEQ under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.
“It is part of the Executive Office of the President.
“The council is responsible for overseeing federal agencies which implement NEPA.
“CEQ also develops and recommends environmental policies to the president.
“Ms. Neumayr is uniquely qualified to serve as chairman of CEQ.
“She currently serves as the council’s chief of staff and has already demonstrated leadership in this capacity.
“She has an extensive background in environmental law.
“She has previously served as: deputy chief counsel of energy and environment on the House Energy and Commerce Committee; she has also served as the deputy general counsel for environment and nuclear programs at the Department of Energy; and counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice.
“Prior to her government service, Ms. Neumayr practiced law in the private sector for 14 years.
“Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of eight former General Counsels at the Department of Energy and Assistant Attorneys General at the Department of Justice wrote a letter praising Ms. Neumayr’s nomination.
“This group includes three members of the Obama administration and one member of the Clinton administration.
“Their bipartisan letter states that, ‘Mary Neumayr is highly qualified to serve as CEQ’s chair….
‘Through her service on Capitol Hill, at the U.S. Department of Energy, at the U.S. Department of Justice, and most recently as chief of staff at CEQ, she has developed and has exhibited the knowledge and skills to be a highly successful CEQ chairman.
‘Moreover, and equally as important, she treats all people and all stakeholders with dignity and respect, and her integrity is absolutely above reproach.’
“President Trump has also nominated Dr. John Fleming to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
“The assistant secretary serves as the administrator of the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
“EDA provides development assistance to economically distressed portions of the country.
“Dr. Fleming is well qualified for this role.
“Not only is he a former member of Congress, a military veteran, and a physician, he is also a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
“In this capacity, Dr. Fleming has helped launch several companies which today, employ over 500 people in Louisiana.
“Dr. Fleming’s nomination has drawn praise from Don Pierson, secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, who states, ‘Dr. Fleming has been instrumental in the development and execution of projects, which have taken root in northwest Louisiana and spread across the United States.
‘Dr. Fleming recognized our regional economy was too heavily reliant on oil and gas, agriculture and gaming. As a result, Dr. Fleming set a path towards pivoting our economy and associated workforce to a technology driven, knowledge-based economy…
‘His experience in public policy, business and his military background serve as the right attributes for leading economic development efforts.’
“I look forward to hearing from both Ms. Neumayr and Dr. Fleming as the committee considers their nominations.”
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