Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Epa Confirmation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
EPA nominee tells senators he will seek to balance environmental protection and economic growth
Summary
A nominee to be the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency told senators in opening remarks that he would prioritize protecting human health and the environment while also safeguarding the economy, stressing collaboration with career staff, lawmakers and the private sector.
A nominee to be the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency told senators in opening remarks that he would prioritize protecting human health and the environment while also safeguarding the economy.
The nominee said the agency must “protect human health and the environment” while “harness[ing] the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship.” He said the EPA should be “better stewards of tax dollars, honor cooperative federalism, and be transparent and accountable to Congress and the public.”
Why it matters: the administrator of the EPA directs federal regulatory priorities and enforcement that affect air and water quality, chemical safety, and rules that can shape industries nationwide. The nominee framed his approach around compliance, collaboration with the private sector and bipartisan cooperation with lawmakers from all states.
In his prepared remarks the nominee outlined a mix of priorities and background. He cited experience representing New York’s 1st congressional district and said he had worked across party lines on issues including preservation of the Long Island Sound and Plum Island. He pointed to support for legislation he described as bipartisan successes, naming the Great American Outdoors Act and the Save Our Seas Act and referencing work on issues such as PFAS in drinking water and the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act.
The nominee emphasized partnership with career EPA staff and local officials. “I will foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission,” he said. He also said he would prioritize compliance and the rule of law and pursue private-sector collaboration to promote “common sense, smart regulation.”
He framed the nomination as a nonpartisan duty and invoked family and service as motivations. The nominee mentioned his wife, Diana, daughter Michaela, mother Meryl and another daughter, Ariana, who is in college, and described roles he has previously held, including as a congressman and state senator.
The nominee concluded by thanking the chair and ranking member and saying he was “eager to answer your questions.” The transcript records only his opening statement; no committee questions or votes appear in the provided record.
Ending: The opening statement establishes the nominee’s stated priorities for the agency but does not record any formal committee action or a timeline for a confirmation vote in the provided transcript.
