EPA Chief Questioned by Democrats at Senate Oversight Hearing

On January 30, 2018, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt testified for the first time since his confirmation hearing last year before the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee for the first time since his confirmation hearing last year. He faced tough questions and criticisms from the Democrats on the panel. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) urged Pruitt to come before the committee and meet with lawmakers more often and criticized some of his actions as the EPA chief, such as delaying environmental rules, removing science advisers, and taking down web pages pertaining to climate science. Carper also asked Pruitt if he would “commit not to take any steps to repeal or replace the so-called endangerment finding,” to which Pruitt responded, “There is no decision or determination on that.” The endangerment finding is the basis of EPA’s climate rules and concludes that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases contribute to climate change and are harmful to human health. Pruitt defended his actions by emphasizing that his approach to run the agency focused on the rule of law, process, and federalism, through agency partnerships with states. He stated that he was “committed to performing the work that is necessary to meet our mission of protecting human health and the environment.” He also asked senators to support him on his “war on lead,” an effort to remove lead from drinking water. Se...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news