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Pallone Requests Information on Pruitt’s Meetings with Industry

September 26, 2017

Records Request Next Step in Determining Whether Pruitt Violated the Law

Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) today requesting a comprehensive factual record of instances where Administrator Scott Pruitt may have violated the Antideficiency Act and the publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017. This inquiry follows recent reports of Pruitt's many meetings with industry, frequently followed by favorable agency action toward industry.

According to several reports, Administrator Pruitt has repeatedly made statements and urged groups including the National Mining Association to publicly support the U.S. leaving the Paris climate change agreement. In August, Ranking Member Pallone sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a legal opinion on whether Administrator Pruitt's actions violated the law. In order for GAO to provide legal analysis on this matter, Pallone is requesting a factual record of Administrator Pruitt's actions.

Full text of the letter is available below:

September 26, 2017

Arthur A. Elkins, Jr.

Inspector General

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Washington, DC 20460

Dear Mr. Elkins:

According to several news reports, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and EPA staff have urged groups to publicly support the U.S. leaving the Paris climate change agreement. On August 1, 2017, I sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a legal opinion on whether recent actions by Administrator Pruitt violated the Antideficiency Act and the publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CSA) of 2017 during the time period before President Trump decided to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord.

Administrator Pruitt made many statements advocating for the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. For example, at the April 2017 meeting between Administrator Pruitt and the National Mining Association, Mr. Pruitt reportedly called for the group to publicly support the U.S. exiting the Paris climate change agreement. Additionally, Politico reported that "Pruitt's staff also urged lawmakers and conservative groups to publicly criticize the agreement… which had the effect of increasing public pressure on Trump." Following Administrator Pruitt's meeting, National Mining Association executives voted to support the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. These reports illustrate just a few examples of a potentially larger universe of actions by Administrator Pruitt and EPA staff that may have violated the Antideficiency Act and the CSA.

Prior to GAO conducting an analysis of whether recent actions by Administrator Pruitt violated the Antideficiency Act and the publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions of the CSA, it is necessary to establish a factual record. I therefore request the EPA Office of Inspector General develop a comprehensive factual record for instances where possible legal violations may have occurred, including the April 2017 meeting between Administrator Pruitt and the National Mining Association.

I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. Should you have any questions about my request, please contact Jon Monger of the Democratic Committee staff at (202) 225-3641.

Sincerely,

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Ranking Member

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