Delay of Pruitt Confirmation Vote “Wise and Necessary” – EDF Action

“We should all thank the Democratic Senators on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for boycotting today’s committee hearing – a decision that led to a wise and necessary delay in voting on Scott Pruitt’s nomination to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Pruitt has a long and troubling history on environmental issues, including repeatedly suing EPA – the agency he now wants to lead. Pruitt also misrepresented his record during his confirmation hearing, and Senators’ requests for more complete and transparent information have been ignored. Senators, and the American people, have a right to know about Pruitt’s extreme views. Delaying his confirmation vote will allow Senators to get the information they need, and will ultimately benefit all Americans.

“Pruitt built his political career fighting against the very clean air and water protections he would be asked to uphold at EPA. He sued EPA at least fourteen times to block clean air and water safeguards – and raised funds from the companies who would benefit from weaker pollution protections.

“In his confirmation hearing he gave evasive and murky answers. For example, under questioning from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Pruitt claimed he did not raise funds from several companies he would regulate at EPA, including Devon Energy – but open records documents show that his top aide did deploy Devon in fundraising. As far back as 2014, a New York Times report found that Pruitt led an “unprecedented, secretive alliance” with large energy companies to attack clean air rules.

“We are deeply concerned about the contempt he has shown for America’s bedrock clean air and clean water protections. The Clean Air Act and other EPA protections have reduced the amount of soot, smog, mercury, arsenic and other toxic pollutants in the air we breathe. They have saved hundreds of thousands of American lives, prevented brain damage in children, reduced asthma attacks and heart disease and other serious health problems – and Scott Pruitt has built his career on fighting them.

“Americans need an EPA Administrator who they can trust to uphold the agency’s core mission of protecting public health and the environment. That’s why Scott Pruitt is the first EPA nominee ever opposed by EDF Action or our sister organization, Environmental Defense Fund.”