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Pallone on Nomination of Pruitt for EPA Administrator

December 7, 2016

Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today upon news of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's expected nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

"President-Elect Trump's choice of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be EPA Administrator confirms his critics' greatest fears about the direction of our national environmental policy. Mr. Pruitt's record of close partnership with the fossil fuel industry to undermine commonsense clean air and clean water protections shows a willingness to ignore EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment. His outspoken and aggressive opposition to the Clean Power Plan and close ties to the fossil fuel industry signal the Trump administration's intention to undermine progress in addressing climate change just as the rest of the world has come together to respond to this threat. The nation cannot afford to reverse course on climate action. It's unfortunate that Mr. Pruitt views environmental protection as the enemy of economic prosperity. It is not. A clean, healthy environment remains essential to social and economic prosperity.

"Pruitt is not the right choice for this position. We need to find common ground on environmental issues in order to protect Americans' fundamental right to clean air, clean water and a safe environment to raise their families. I did not anticipate that President-elect Trump would nominate a life-long environmentalist to lead the EPA, but I was hoping he would not offer this important job to a known science denier and dedicated opponent to environmental protection. I am deeply disappointed and concerned about this nomination."

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