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 to consider nominations and legislation.

At the meeting, the EPW committee voted 15-6 to advance the nomination of Annie Caputo to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The committee voted 11-10 to advance the nomination of David Wright to serve as a member of the NRC.

The committee voted 11-10 to advance the nomination of Susan Bodine to serve as assistant administrator of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The committee also passed:

  • S. 822, the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2017;
  • S. 1447, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2017;
  • S. 1359, John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2017;
  • S. 810, a bill to facilitate construction of a bridge on certain property in Christian County, Missouri, and for other purposes;
  • S. 1395, a bill to revise the boundaries of certain John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System units in Delaware; and
  • Five General Services Administration resolutions.

To watch the full business meeting, click here.

Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“Today, we consider two nominees for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and one nominee for assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“I applaud the president’s nomination of Ms. Caputo, Mr. Wright, and Ms. Bodine.

“They all have proven themselves to be well-qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servants.

“Their confirmation will fill critically important roles in protecting Americans’ public health and safety.

“I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on each of the nominations.

“We also consider five bills and five resolutions.

“S. 822, the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act, or BUILD Act, reauthorizes and expands eligibility for brownfields cleanup grants, and makes the use of those grants more flexible.

“S. 1447, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act reauthorizes and improves the Environmental Protection Agency’s DERA program, which provides funding to projects that replace or retrofit older diesel vehicles, engines, and equipment.

“S.1359, the John Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act authorizes funding for the Kennedy Center.

“S. 810 paves the way for construction of a bridge in Christian County, Missouri.

“S. 1395 updates the current map delineating a Coastal Barrier Resources System unit in Delaware by removing an area that was mistakenly included when the current map was made.

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

“For S. 822 and S. 810, we are marking up the substitute amendment to each bill.

“I would like to thank the members for their work to reach agreement on these amendments.

“I would also like to thank the members for their work in reaching agreement on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.”

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