[Senate Hearing 117-224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 117-224
HEARING ON THE NOMINATIONS OF CHRISTOPHER FREY TO BE ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND JENNIFER CLYBURN REED TO BE FEDERAL CO-CHAIR OF
THE SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION
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HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
OCTOBER 27, 2021
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
47-182 PDF WASHINGTON : 2022
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware, Chairman
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont Virginia,
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island Ranking Member
JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota
TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS, Wyoming
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan RICHARD SHELBY, Alabama
MARK KELLY, Arizona JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
ALEX PADILLA, California ROGER WICKER, Mississippi
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
JONI ERNST, Iowa
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina
Mary Frances Repko, Democratic Staff Director
Adam Tomlinson, Republican Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
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Page
OCTOBER 27, 2021
OPENING STATEMENTS
Carper, Hon. Thomas R., U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware.. 1
Capito, Hon. Shelley Moore, U.S. Senator from the State of West
Virginia....................................................... 3
WITNESSES
Reed, Jennifer Clyburn, nominee to be Federal Co-Chair, Southeast
Crescent Regional Commission................................... 5
Prepared statement........................................... 8
Frey, Christopher, nominee to be Assistant Administrator for
Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency...... 10
Prepared statement........................................... 12
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Kelly............................................ 15
Senator Capito........................................... 18
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Letter to Senators Carper and Capito from Dr. Bernard Goldstein
et al., October 20, 2021....................................... 40
HEARING ON THE NOMINATIONS OF CHRISTOPHER FREY TO BE ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND JENNIFER CLYBURN REED TO BE FEDERAL CO-CHAIR OF
THE SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
Washington, DC.
The Committee, met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m. in
room 406, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Thomas R. Carper
(Chairman of the Committee) presiding.
Present: Senators Carper, Capito, Kelly, Inhofe, Ernst, and
Graham.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS R. CARPER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF DELAWARE
Senator Carper. Welcome, everyone. I call this hearing to
order.
Today, we are privileged to hear from two nominees:
Jennifer Clyburn Reed, whom President Biden has nominated to be
the Federal Co-Chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission, and Christopher Frey, whom the President has
nominated to serve as the Assistant Administrator of the Office
of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection
Agency.
We warmly welcome both of you today.
Before we hear from our witnesses, Senator Capito and I
would like to say a few words about each of them.
Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed has built an exemplary career as
an educator and advocate for strengthening the economic,
social, and physical health of communities in her home State of
South Carolina. She is also a graduate of the University of
South Carolina. I just wrote this in, and I hope this is
correct, a proud Gamecock, a graduate of the University of
South Carolina.
Dr. Reed has spent nearly 30 years as an educator and an
education leader. Most recently, she was the Director of the
Center for Education and Equity at the University of South
Carolina, her alma mater, and Co-Director of the Apple Core
Initiative, a scholarship program at the USC College of
Education.
She is also CEO of the Palmetto Issues Conference, an
issues based advisory group that promotes accessible and
equitable policies in education, in health, in housing, and
infrastructure.
I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Reed virtually
yesterday and found her to be an engaging leader who is deeply
committed to helping communities across the Southeast Crescent
region.
If confirmed, Dr. Reed will be the Southeast Crescent
Regional Commission's first Federal Co-Chair since it was
created in 2019. Just let me repeat that: If confirmed, Dr.
Reed will be the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission's first
Federal Co-Chair since it was created in 2019.
Having her in this role will allow this agency to fully
commit its resources toward addressing economically distressed
areas across parts of Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
I am delighted that Dr. Reed could join us here today. We
look forward to hearing her vision for this role.
I am sure she will introduce a couple of relatives and
maybe some friends that are in the audience, but Senator Capito
and I have had the privilege of serving with your dad, and it
is a special privilege to welcome him here today.
I would like to say we could see his lips move when you
speak but with the mask on, we won't see his lips move at all,
but we know he is here to provide encouragement and support.
[Laughter.]
Senator Carper. President Biden nominated our second
witness today, Henry Christopher Frey, who I believe goes by
the name of Chris, to serve as EPA Assistant Administrator for
the Office of Research and Development. Dr. Frey has built a
remarkable, accomplished career as a pioneer in the fields of
modeling human exposure to air pollution, as well as the
measurement and modeling of vehicle emissions and applying
those emissions estimates to risk assessments.
At a time when the EPA is recommitting itself to science
driven decisionmaking, Dr. Frey's experience makes him an
excellent choice to lead research and development at the
agency. Dr. Frey has been a professor for 27 years at North
Carolina State University, where he has dedicated himself to
research and cultivating the next generation of scientific
leaders.
He also has extensive experience working with the
Environmental Protection Agency. In 1992, Dr. Frey was a AAAS;
I had never heard of a AAAS; I have heard a lot of AAAs, but a
AAAS, Environmental Science and Engineering Fellow at EPA. He
has served as exposure modeling advisor in the EPA's Office of
Research and Development's National Exposure Research
Laboratory from I believe 2006 to 2007.
He also served in several other capacities at EPA through
the years, including as a member of the EPA's Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, affectionately
known as FIFRA; Science Advisory Panel from 2004 to 2006; as a
member of the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
from 2008 to 2012; as Chair of that committee from 2012 to
2015; and as a member of the EPA Science Advisory Board from
2012 to 2018.
Let me also add that Dr. Frey has received public support
from seven of his predecessors for this role, including both
Republicans and Democrats, going back to the Reagan
administration. There may be no better endorsement for a job
than from someone who has held it before, much less seven
former leaders who served in this role from both sides of the
aisle.
I also had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Frey earlier
this week, and he is quite impressive in person, as well.
Should he be confirmed, he will be an undeniable champion of
science based decisionmaking and scientific integrity at the
EPA's Office of Research and Development.
We are looking forward to hearing more from him today.
But before we do, we are going to hear from our Ranking
Member, Senator Capito, for her opening statement.
Senator Capito.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO,
U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
Senator Capito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank our two witnesses today for being willing
to serve. I think it is an admirable trait, public service, and
we certainly appreciate those efforts. We look forward to
hearing from both of you.
Thank you, Chairman Carper, for having the hearing.
As Chairman Carper mentioned, Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed
will be the first to lead the Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission, which is going to be an interesting exercise for me
to watch since we have the Appalachian Regional Commission in
our States, and we have seen how that has developed over the
years.
Then of course, the Environmental Protection Agency Office
of Research and Development, Dr. Chris Frey.
Each of you has devoted the majority of your careers to
education. For that, you deserve great recognition, and I thank
you.
Dr. Clyburn Reed, it is nice to see your father in the
audience today. I had the pleasure of playing golf with him one
time. He is quite the golfer.
I commend you for your service in education at all levels
because you have obviously taught at every level in a lot of
different types of situations, and for what you have done for
your State of South Carolina. I look forward to hearing about
you and what your plans are for the Commission.
Dr. Frey, I know you have been a college professor for 27
years, including time at the University of Pittsburgh and North
Carolina State University, and you are now nominated for this
position. As we discussed during our meeting last week, when we
spoke, and I thank you for that, this is one of science, a
scientist, not a policymaker or a politician. The research
conducted in this office is used to inform critical policy
decisions made by the agency's regulatory offices.
Establishing public trust requires that the scientific
studies are developed in an open and transparent fashion, you
and I talked about this, not hidden from robust public
scrutiny. Transparency, I take the opportunity every time I get
the chance to talk at this dais to talk about the frustrations
that I have with this Administration on transparency. Because
it is not only critical in the scientific process, but also in
policy proposals and the accountability that accompanies these
decisions that this Administration is making.
I am very disturbed about this Administration's lack of
transparency, particularly on climate and environmental issues.
I have asked repeatedly the EPA and the White House several
times now how the new U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution,
or NDC, under the Paris Agreement was calculated. I am still
waiting to hear how that calculation was made, the pledge being
to reduce emissions 50 to 52 percent by 2030, and how is that
possible, and what regulations would be put in place to make
that possible.
Administrator Regan committed to me back in April to
provide EPA information used to develop the NDC. He has not
fulfilled that promise. I am actually going to have breakfast
with him next week. I will have to make sure not only here in a
public forum but privately to reiterate this.
At the end of October, and after repeated attempts to get
information, I still do not have a substantive response. I get
the sense that slow rolling this information hoping that this
tax and spending spree that we see being squabbled over over on
the House side, would have been enacted by now, and
overshadowing some of the regulations the Administration has
planned. That hasn't happened yet.
Now the Administration is trying to have something to
present to the climate conference in Glasgow to show the world
it will meet its overly ambitious targets. They appear focused
on that audience, rather than the American public, workers,
their families, and the folks that are elected to represent
them in Congress as everybody watches their energy bills begin
to skyrocket.
Proving this point in remarks earlier this year, John
Kerry, the White House international climate czar, called for
the U.S. intelligence community to verify the authenticity of
Paris pledges by China, Russia, and other countries, stating
that, ``I think the President would want to know if something
is just baloney, or if a country is misleading.'' This
Administration has eyes wide open for the pledges of other
countries, but they have then closed the door on the
accountability to Congress or the American people on what the
costs and what the sacrifices and the benefits would be.
At the same time, the Administration, through an
interagency working group, is pursuing options to develop and
apply a new cost for emitting greenhouse gases. President Biden
wants to use this figure, known as the social cost of carbon,
in all areas of Federal decisionmaking. Following several
requests from me and other Members of Congress, the leaders of
the interagency working group admitted they will not hold a
single public meeting on this issue. Despite the potentially
wide ranging effects of their proposals, Administration leaders
are yet again hiding the ball from the American people.
Administration officials make vague, ominous remarks about
using untested regulatory pathways to cut emissions. Yet the
President, President Biden still has not put forth a nominee to
lead one of the EPA's most significant offices, the Office of
Air and Radiation; that is the very office that is reportedly
developing the costly and far reaching environmental
regulations that the President will tout in Glasgow next week.
In the midst of a major supply chain and transportation
crisis, the President has also not put forward a nominee to
lead the Federal Highway Administration. The agency responsible
to oversee the safe use of our Nation's nuclear energy power
plants, the NRC, is currently working with just three
commissioners and two vacancies.
Instead of ensuring transparency and accountability to the
American people, the President has chosen to rely on his
climate czars who are sitting in the White House and not
accountable to us. Both of us are ready to advise and consent
on nominees the President brings. It is time for him to stop
delaying and to nominate individuals for the positions I
mentioned and stop shielding the Administration's decisions.
This morning, we just have two nominees testifying, and
they are great nominees, but it should be more.
I want to thank you again, Chairman Carper, for holding
today's hearing.
I want to thank our two nominees again for being with us
today.
Thank you.
Senator Carper. Thanks very much, Senator Capito.
I had breakfast with Administrator Regan maybe a month or 2
ago. I think you will find that constructive and helpful.
Senator Capito and I try to meet most Thursdays either in
person or by phone if we are on the road. Some of the vacancies
that you mentioned that we are looking for nominees, let's just
talk about those and see what we can do to shake a few loose
from the trees.
With that, thank you for your comments, Senator Capito.
Now we look forward to hearing from our nominees. We are
going to start with Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed.
Dr. Reed, you are recognized for your statement. Please
proceed.
STATEMENT OF JENNIFER CLYBURN REED, NOMINEE TO BE FEDERAL CO-
CHAIR, SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION
Ms. Reed. Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito, and
members of this Committee, good morning, and thank you for
granting me this opportunity to appear before you as you
consider President Joe Biden's nomination of me for Federal Co-
Chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission.
I also want to thank your staffs for the time spent with me
over the past several days. The discussions have been engaging
and informative.
I am grateful to President Biden for the faith and
confidence placed in me by this nomination. If afforded the
opportunity to serve, I pledge to prove your confidence well
spent and do my family and friends proud.
Here with me today are my husband of 29 years, Mississippi
native and Florida A&M graduate, Walter Reed.
Senator Carper. Did you say Walter Reed?
Ms. Reed. Walter Reed, yes.
Senator Carper. As in the hospital?
Ms. Reed. Yes.
[Laughter.]
Ms. Reed. My father, Hon. Jim Clyburn, with whom you are
probably somewhat aware. Joining me remotely, my son, Walter AC
Reed, a graduate of Coastal Carolina University; my daughter,
Sydney Reed, a Mississippi State graduate and third year
medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina; my
sisters, Mignon and Angela Clyburn; my father and sister-in-
law, Jackson State alumni, Dr. Walter Reed and Dr. Kathy
Taylor. And to the kinship and friendship circles supporting me
from home, thank you.
I began my professional career 29 years ago as a public
school educator with a Master's Degree. Over the next 25 years,
I served as a classroom teacher, a middle school basketball
coach, and a State Department of Education specialist. Along
the way, I earned two additional academic credentials, an
Education Specialist and a Doctorate from Nova Southeastern
University in Florida.
I concluded my educational career as Director of a teaching
equity center at the University of South Carolina, where I also
co-founded the Apple Core Initiative, a teaching, recruitment,
and retention scholarship program. I have continued my
commitment to education as a committee member of the Emily E.
Clyburn Honors College endowment at my State's only publicly
supported HBCU, South Carolina State University.
Throughout these professional roles, I have remained true
to my father's counsel that one should find something to do for
which you are not paid. My community service began as a Girl
Scout, then tutor at a public housing tutorial center with my
sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I served
as board chair of the Greater Columbia Community Relations
Council and currently serve as president of a non-profit which
promotes first time homeownership and the preservation and
restoration of distressed and abandoned properties.
I believe that this background would be beneficial to me as
I seek to continue my public service in a broader capacity in a
wider community through the Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission.
The Commission, which was authorized in 2008, focuses on
distressed economic conditions in portions of six States:
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
Virginia, and all of the State of Florida. Six States share two
active regional commissions, the Delta Regional Authority and
the Appalachian Regional Commission.
If confirmed, my initial goal will be to assess the needs
and assets of each community within the Commission's 342
counties and identify challenges and determine the tools needed
to progress them from distressed into transitional and
attainment status. The Commission would then work closely with
economic development districts, in partnership with State and
local leaders, to formulate regional action plans using current
and trending statistics with the input of community voices.
Believe me, I learned early in my career that one size does
not fit all. The Commission would seek to fund entities that
make economic development a sustainable priority, while
stimulating local entrepreneur development and nurturing
private investment.
The formula used to target distressed counties through
Congressman Clyburn's 10-20-30 plan states that 10 percent of
certain appropriated funds be targeted to persistent poverty
communities identified by the Census Bureau where 20 percent or
more of the population has lived at or below the poverty level
for 30 or more years. According to a report from the
Congressional Research Service defining persistent poverty
counties, there 407 in the United States. Ninety-two, or 22.6
percent of them, fall within the jurisdiction of the Southeast
Crescent Regional Commission.
Working in tandem with State and local municipalities to
create opportunities to fill gaps in education attainment, work
force preparedness, job creation, and physical and human
infrastructure are challenges that beg for cooperation at all
levels. And if confirmed, the Commission will not waste
valuable time re-creating the wheel. Instead, it will consult
with other Federal Co-Chairs to emulate best practices.
I will carry out the objectives of the Commission to
strengthen areas with the greatest needs, and I look forward to
working with this Committee to ensure that the Southeast
Crescent Regional Commission works for all of its citizens.
Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito, and members of the
Committee, thank you again for this opportunity to appear
before you today. And I look forward to any questions you have.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Reed follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator Carper. Thank you, Dr. Reed.
Senator Capito, my first thought is the apple did not fall
far from the tree.
Dr. Frey; we were joking yesterday about how he pronounces
his name. A lot of people, F-R-E-Y, they pronounce it Fry. But
he pronounces it Fray. He is a big music fan. He loves a band
called The Fray, from Colorado, How To Save a Life.
You are on, Dr. Frey. Welcome.
STATEMENT OF CHRISTOPHER FREY, NOMINEE TO BE ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Carper, and good morning,
Ranking Member Capito, and members of the Committee.
I am honored that President Biden has nominated me to serve
as Assistant Administrator in the Office of Research and
Development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
I also want to thank my wife, Deanna, and my daughter,
Loren, who are with me today, for their support.
Senator Carper. Which one is your wife?
Mr. Frey. The really good looking woman sitting behind me.
[Laughter.]
Senator Carper. Would you raise your hand, ma'am? Nice to
see you. Welcome. Thanks for sharing him with all of us.
Mr. Frey. Thank you, sir.
In fact, she is sharing me with all of you, and I am
honored that she is.
I also want to thank my extended family in New York, West
Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, who are
watching today.
Science and the environment have long been my passions and
my purpose. I grew up in lower Manhattan in the 1960s and
1970s. My family lived in a rent controlled, walk up building
built in the 1880s. There was lead paint on the walls, choking
smog outside, and greasy flakes of soot wafted from the sky,
smearing my bedroom windowsill.
This affected me so much that when I was 8 years old, I
wrote an essay titled Pollution. I posited that pollution is
bad for people and animals, too. Although I didn't realize it
at the time, I identified multiple environmental media, fate,
and transport pathways, and adverse effect outcomes.
My father typed and copied my essay and gave it to all of
our neighbors. This was my first publication. I trace my
career, and my passion and purpose to that essay and to my
first hand experience with environmental pollution while
growing up.
My parents instilled in me a passion for the environment as
well as a sense of duty to serve the public. My father served
honorably in the United States Marine Corps. After his military
service, he became an oceanographer and a professor. He spent
the last 22 years of his career with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. And he now rests at Arlington
National Cemetery.
My mother's passion was art. She was a painter and a
writer. Her last book was a novel about dolphins, for which she
conducted extensive research. Although not rich in a material
sense, she had enormous wealth of spirit. She taught me to
listen to many different voices, understand how things work,
and work with others to find solutions.
With my parents teaching me the value of listening,
observing, and public service, it is no surprise that I found
my way to environmental science and engineering.
I have been privileged to have spent most of my career in
academia, including 27 years at North Carolina State
University. While there, I researched how to improve the
efficiency and reduce the cost and emissions of coal fired
power plants. I helped governments and industry develop cost
effective solutions for emissions prevention. I researched
improved quantitative methods for uncertainty in exposure and
risk assessment. My research has also focused on measurement
and modeling of vehicle emissions and human exposure to air
pollution.
My research has helped inform a variety of decisions from
improving traffic signal timing to reduce vehicle emissions as
well as the selection of ambient air quality standards taking
into account uncertainty in risk assessment.
As an experienced researcher and professor, I am a champion
of science and its essential role in keeping American families
healthy and safe. I am proud of the quality, scope, and impact
my work has had, as demonstrated by my extensive peer reviewed
publication record and numerous awards, including the
Excellence in Air Pollution Control Award from the Air and
Waste Management Association.
I have been invited to share my expertise on numerous
national and international expert advisory panels. As Senator
Carper noted, I have worked multiple times with the Office of
Research and Development, and I have served on the Science
Advisory Board and chaired the Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee.
I believe that I have the scientific credentials,
expertise, experience, vision, and commitment to serve as ORD's
Assistant Administrator and to lead ORD's world class research
staff.
Senators, applying science to solve complex challenges that
affect the lives of the American people has been my highest
priority throughout my career. It would be a tremendous
privilege to continue this dedication at EPA.
And I recognize, as Senator Capito alluded to, that science
is just one of the many factors that inform policy decisions.
If confirmed, my leadership will start with listening. The
complex environmental challenges our Nation faces require an
all hands on deck approach, drawing on the experience,
expertise, and perspectives of numerous stakeholders, including
all of you, Senators.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Frey follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator Carper. Dr. Frey, thanks very much for your
testimony.
Thank you both for your testimony and your presence.
We are now ready to begin with the questions for our two
witnesses. Senator Capito and I have agreed to two 5 minute
rounds of questions with additional rounds at the discretion of
the Chair and the Ranking Member.
To begin, this Committee has three standing yes or no
questions that it asks all of our nominees who appear before
us. So I am going to ask each of you these questions.
First, do you agree, if confirmed, to appear before this
Committee or designated members of this Committee and other
appropriate committees of the Congress, and provide information
subject to appropriate and necessary security protections with
respect to your responsibilities?
Do you, Dr. Reed?
Ms. Reed. Yes, sir, I do.
Senator Carper. Dr. Frey?
Mr. Frey. Yes, sir, I do.
Senator Carper. Second question, do you agree to ensure
that testimony, briefings, and documents and other electronic
forms of communication or information are provided to this
Committee and its staff and other appropriate committees in a
timely manner?
Dr. Reed, do you?
Ms. Reed. Yes, I do.
Senator Carper. Dr. Frey?
Mr. Frey. Yes, sir, I do.
Senator Carper. One more. Do you know of any matters which
you may or may not have disclosed that might place you in a
conflict of interest if you are confirmed?
Dr. Reed, do you?
Ms. Reed. No, sir, I don't.
Senator Carper. Dr. Frey?
Mr. Frey. No, sir.
Senator Carper. Dr. Reed, you spent many years as an
educator, and one who I am sure has taught and inspired other
educators. I love to go into schools. I know my colleagues
Senator Capito and Senator Inhofe do as well. I really enjoy
school assemblies, even with little kids.
I always remember being in an elementary schools, it was
kindergarten to grade 5. They had an assembly with a couple
hundred kids. Front row was third grade, and I spoke for a
little bit, and then we had a Q and A.
This little girl in the third grade raised her hand. I
said, ``Yes, ma'am, what would your question be?'' She said,
``What do you do?'' I said, ``I'm a United States Senator. We
have 50 States, and every State has two Senators. You have
rules for your school, don't you?'' She said, ``Yes.'' I said,
``You have rules on your bus?'' She said, ``Yes.'' I said,
``You have rules at home?'' She said, ``Yes.'' I said, ``We
have rules for our country. Along with another Senator, Senator
Chris Coons and our Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, I get
to help make the rules for the country.''
A little boy sitting next to her raised his hand, I said,
``Yes, sir, what would your question be?'' He said, ``What else
do you do?''
[Laughter.]
Senator Carper. I told him that I try to help people, try
to help people. And one of the ways we try to help people is to
make sure they have clean air to breathe, and water to drink,
and on and on.
If those third graders had been asking you what you would
be responsible for doing, if you are confirmed for this
position, how would you explain it to them that they and their
parents and others could have a real appreciation for a
position that has basically gone unfilled for I think decades?
Senator Capito talked about this Administration has not
filled every seat that could be filled by a nominee. This is a
job that has gone decades with nobody, Democrat or Republican,
has ever nominated anyone for it. That is about to change--that
has changed.
Go ahead, please. What do you do? What would you do?
Ms. Reed. Thank you very much for that question, Senator.
I envision having several conversations with many of my
former students and their children at this point to let them
know that my vision has not changed from when I taught them in
school. That is to help them become better citizens, to help
their neighborhoods become more conducive to living and
learning and growing and prospering.
The Commissions, they all have a purpose. And that is to
create strong infrastructure, to create job development
environments that are safe, and promote private investments and
entrepreneurship and to really get that infrastructure,
particularly in looking at broadband in the last mile.
The Commission will work with local leaders at the
grassroots level and help them at their level. I have told
people time and time again, the closer your government is to
you, the more they influence your lives.
So that is the level of influence in which we would help,
the Commission would help that level so that lives can be
impacted immediately.
Senator Carper. I am going to ask you to give us some
preliminary answers to a question I am going to ask right now.
The question is this, and you can answer for the record.
Are there ways that other agencies, or even Congress, even
this Committee, might be of help to you as you stand up this
Commission and lead it? How can we be helpful?
Ms. Reed. Thank you for the question.
Other agencies that will be helpful, particularly your
Committee and Congress, first of all, would be the
appropriation of funds to help the Commission get off the
ground. As we noted earlier, this Commission only exists on
paper, so we would need to create small committees to stand up
the committee in the southeast region.
Priority will be looking at where to have a presence, where
would that presence be as a physical structure, and then move
outward in a broad sense to meet those people who are at the
table and at the grassroots level.
Senator Carper. That is a good start.
Let me note, as it turns out there are seven of these
regional commissions. This is one we are trying to stand up
now.
Ms. Reed. Yes.
Senator Carper. One of them is the Appalachian Regional
Commission, which is a big part of West Virginia. The Chair is
somebody you know, Gayle Manchin. Dr. Reed told me she was on
the phone talking to Gayle Manchin the other day.
I like to say, find out what works; do more of that. One of
the best ways you can do that is reaching out like you did with
Gayle Manchin and the other regional commissions to find out
what works and what doesn't. I am sure they will be happy to
help you.
Ms. Reed. Yes, absolutely.
Senator Carper. Senator Capito.
Senator Capito. Thank you.
Senator Inhofe, do you want to go before me?
Senator Inhofe. I appreciate that very much. Thank you for
the opportunity to move ahead of you. I have to get over to
another committee.
Let me say first of all say, Ms. Reed, unfortunately I only
served with your father for a year and a half, but that was a
very rewarding year and a half. I consider him to have remained
a good friend in that time.
Dr. Frey, the EPA's Robert S. Kerr Research Center, I know
you are familiar with that, in Ada, Oklahoma. It has been there
for a long period of time. It is leading the Nation on a type
of water research known as enhanced aquifer recharge, or EAR
for short. They have done a very good job for a long period of
time.
As you know, it utilizes natural methods for the capture
and replenishment of our Nation's aquifers. For years, Congress
has allocated the funding, necessary funding to keep that
going.
It was my understanding, and I got this second hand, so I
honestly don't know, Dr. Frey, the source. But apparently there
has been a hold up in coordinating the local entities as we
normally are expecting. Would you make advancing research in
this enhanced aquifer recharge a priority if you are confirmed?
Mr. Frey. Yes, thank you, Senator Inhofe. This is obviously
an important issue for your State of Oklahoma because the
aquifer, the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, in particular, is a
major resource for farmers, ranchers, and anyone who drinks
water.
Yes, the program you allude to on enhanced aquifer
recharge, ORD staff have been working with the U.S. Geological
Survey on engineered methods to use stormwater to help recharge
the aquifer. As you point out, that is being done at ORD's Ada,
Oklahoma, lab.
Yes, this is an important priority for us. It is something
that I anticipate and would expect under my leadership that we
would continue to work with you on this issue because I know it
is important to you and for Oklahoma. It is also important that
the same issues are faced in other parts of the country as
well.
Senator Inhofe. I appreciate that very much, and that you
are familiar with that program.
I understand that you are on a leave of absence from, it is
an unpaid academic position you have had with the Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology. One Federal watchdog
group called this Chinese university ``anything short of an arm
of the Chinese government.''
I am pleased that you have committed to resigning this
position with this university should you be confirmed. First, I
want to ask you if that would be your intention.
Mr. Frey. Absolutely, sir, yes.
Senator Inhofe. Do you share the concerns that we have that
with China's poor record? They are the largest polluter out
there, on record, it particularly remains the world's largest
polluter, as they still are, today.
What are your thoughts about that? Should that be a factor
in your confirmation process?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Inhofe.
Senator Inhofe. I want to give you a chance to address that
because others have talked about it.
Mr. Frey. Yes, and I really appreciate this opportunity.
My involvement with research colleagues in Hong Kong is
because as an educator for 27 years, my goal has been to mentor
students and to develop new knowledge. It is a very common
practice in academia to seek out international collaborations,
especially in areas of science where we can deal with
challenging scientific issues that help us push the boundaries
of our own science.
My relationship with colleagues at the HKUST, the
university you mentioned, has been one of research and
mentorship of students and collaboration specifically on issues
of human exposure to air pollution.
I think we all know that region of the world is facing very
severe air pollution. There is actually a lot of interesting
science issues there we can learn from to inform best science
here in the United States. My work has really been in the realm
of the science, not in the realm of the policy or the
geopolitical issues that you mentioned.
I will say that when I came onboard in my current role with
the EPA 9 months ago, I fully disclosed all of my affiliations,
including this unpaid adjunct affiliation. I have been
following the advice of our Office of General Counsel at EPA
and ethics officials. On that advice, if confirmed, I would
resign this unpaid adjunct position.
Senator Inhofe. It has always been a concern to me that
many of the extreme groups that are out there hold a great
regard for China and their record, and yet they continue to be
the greatest polluter around. I have often wondered how they
get by with that.
Thank you very much, Dr. Frey.
Mr. Frey. You are welcome, Senator.
Senator Inhofe. And thank you, Senator Capito, for giving
me some time up front.
Senator Carper. Senator Capito, you are next.
Senator Graham, welcome. Once Senator Capito has asked her
questions, you will be recognized. You will be next in line.
Thank you. Thanks for joining us.
Senator Capito [presiding]. Dr. Frey, when we talked on the
phone last week, I kind of hit you, I think, with a surprise. I
am going to talk about the 2019 research paper of which you
were one of many of the authors, that laid out an ideal
situation on college football tailgating which would be a ban
on idling, charcoal grills, and old generators. Well, we
decided this was not realistic.
You did tell me that you grill out at least three times a
week, and you are fuel agnostic. Thank you for clarifying that
world changing research paper. Because, I can imagine those
South Carolina Gamecocks would not be for that either.
[Laughter.]
Senator Graham. That is the only reason we go.
Mr. Frey. Nor the Wolf Pack to be honest.
Senator Capito. Nor the Wolf Pack. Yes.
Let's talk a little bit, you wrote a letter to the editor
of the Raleigh News and Observer taking on the Clean Power Plan
claims. In the letter, you disputed assertions that the Clean
Power Plan was ``an act of overreach.''
You are going to be dealing this and I would imagine are
going to be asked to do research in this area. As we know, the
Clean Power Plan has fallen and there is speculation, at least
we are hearing, that there is going to be something that comes
in to fill the space.
Do you believe that EPA acted within its statutory
authority when it issued the Clean Power Plan? Should EPA use
the Clean Power Act to regulate a power plant's carbon dioxide
emissions outside the fence line?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Capito. Obviously, carbon
emissions from power plants are a substantial issue of national
environmental interest.
Early in my career, as a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon
University, I did research with the U.S. Department of Energy
Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia, where I was doing
techno-economic assessment of clean coal technologies. I have
done a little bit of work looking, for example, at carbon
capture in some of my research as well. I know this is an
important issue.
With regard to the letter you that referenced, a colleague
and I were mainly addressing what we viewed as some factual
issues in an op-ed that had been published a week or so
earlier. We weren't so much getting to the legal authority for
the Clean Power Plan. I do know that is an issue of robust
debate on the part of multi-stakeholders.
Certainly, if confirmed as an Assistant Administrator for
the Office of Research and Development, it is really not my
swim lane or space to weigh in on those legal policy issues. My
commitment would be to lead ORD to provide the science that is
needed to inform those kinds of decisions on the part of our
partner program offices that would be considering those legal
and policy issues.
Senator Capito. I would urge you, should you be in this
position, this is where the transparency aspect comes in, not
to shield part of the research or part of the science that
comes from--maybe sometimes it does not say exactly what the
policymakers want it to say. We know that happens frequently.
So I would make that plea again for the transparency.
Dr. Clyburn Reed, you mentioned 342 counties in the
Crescent. As I spoke about in my opening statement, I have
quite a bit of experience with the ARC and the great work it
can do. You said a couple things in your opening statement that
are important.
First of all was partnerships. A Commission can't do it
all. You have to work with your local--all up and down the
spectrum from private to public entities. That is good.
The other thing I would say, you mentioned the persistent
poverty counties, the 92 counties. You are going to have to
prioritize. Obviously if you are starting anywhere, you have to
figure out where you can have the biggest bang for your buck
but also make the most, as you said, make the most impact with
what you have.
Is that how you would prioritize in terms of the lowest
poverty? I would recommend that myself, I guess is what I am
saying. Start with the places that you can really make
improvements on.
And I liked your talk about broadband in answer to one of
the questions. Because that is one way I think that you could
see measurable improvements.
Have you thought about these 92 persistently poverty
counties? I am sure some are in South Carolina, not everywhere.
How would you attack that kind of economic development issue?
Ms. Reed. Thank you for that question.
Yes, those 92 counties are really concerning. That is a
lot.
Senator Capito. Right.
Ms. Reed. First, as I have had a conversation with Gayle
Manchin in the Appalachian, I will have a conversation with her
chief of staff as well as to how they go about prioritizing. We
would mirror our actions after what the ARC actually does.
In looking at the needs of my State in particular, one size
does not fit all, like I said before. So the grassroots level
community leaders working at the State level with the
Governor's office, we would come up with a plan that would be
conducive to the State that we are in.
Every State will be responsible for doing that, every
Governor. We will look at seven different plans, and then we
will prioritize those particular counties first, and then move
from there.
Senator Capito. I would imagine, with your background as an
educator, you have a good reach into that aspect of persistent
poverty, what is the education availability levels and all
those kinds of things I think probably contribute to some of
the factors of the high poverty levels.
I will turn now to Senator Graham.
Senator Graham. Thank you both very much, Senator Carper
and Senator Capito.
I am here very quickly, because there is a hearing in
Judiciary, to give my wholehearted support to Dr. Clyburn Reed
for this job. I have known her family quite a while. This is an
excellent choice. She will do a great job.
I know the entire family is proud, but all of us in South
Carolina are very proud of the fact that you will be the co-
chairman of this organization. I just want to thank you for
being willing to serve.
Ms. Reed. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Graham. I would echo what Senator Capito said.
Broadband is a game changer. We have learned from COVID if you
can't go to school, and you are stuck at home, and the Internet
does not work, your kids fall behind; that telemedicine is the
future. Getting to the doctor, you don't have to get on the
road as often to get to the doctor. You can consult your doctor
if you have the right technology. That keeps people off the
highway, keeps us safe, and allows medicine to be done in a new
and different way.
As the electric co-ops changed rural America about 75 to 80
years ago, I think broadband is going to be the equivalent of
that for the 21st century and beyond.
I want to recognize the work your father has done on this.
Jim is here. I know he is here as a proud father, and as a
distinguished Member of Congress, and a very well known and
respected South Carolinian. I look forward to helping you with
this nomination.
When you get the job, I want to do what Senator Capito did,
let's put all of our resources into upgrading these rural
counties which have been left behind, many of them
predominantly African American.
Mr. Frey, I am glad to see you have changed your opinion
about charcoaling at ball games. So all is good.
Thank you both.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator.
Ms. Reed. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Carper [presiding]. Thanks very much for joining
us, Lindsey.
I want to turn now to a question for Dr. Frey dealing with
experience and goals for the EPA Office of Research and
Development.
Dr. Frey, before joining EPA earlier this year as the
Office of Research and Development's Deputy Assistant
Administrator for Science Policy, you already had significant
experience working with the agency, including 10 years in which
you served as a member of the EPA's Scientific Advisory Board,
a member for FIFRA's Scientific Advisory Board, and a member
and Chair of EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.
How has this experience informed your approach to leading
the Office of Research and Development? And what are your goals
for this office if confirmed?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Carper, for that question.
Those experiences that you referenced have been very
influential and informative in my preparation, if confirmed for
this role through all of those Federal advisory committees that
I have served upon. What I have learned from that is how
incredibly important it is that the agency have access to the
independent, external, scientific advice of world class experts
who are leading scientists in their respective fields.
Also, the problems we face transcend so many boundaries,
including boundaries of scientific disciplines. We really need
all scientists on deck just like we need all hands on deck more
broadly.
These committees are an important way that we engage with
the external science community in an open and transparent
manner, including public comment and the opportunity for our
external experts to hear the views of multiple stakeholders and
consider that in providing their advice and peer review to the
agency. So it is a critical role.
In terms of my priorities, if confirmed, my three biggest
priorities, No. 1, ORD has an outstanding career work force. I
am so proud to work with the career scientists and all the
support folks in ORD. We need to be positioned for emerging
challenges and for challenges of the future. So it is critical
that with the resources available to us from Congress that we
hire scientists in key disciplines that will move us forward,
and also that our work force becomes more diversified and that
our work force looks more like the America that we are serving.
No. 2, we have so many high priority, urgent scientific
challenges from the President, from the Administrator, and what
we are hearing from our State stakeholders, tribal
stakeholders, community stakeholders, and the scientific
community, issues that I think you are all well aware of,
climate and environmental justice, PFAS, lead, the aquifer
recharge that Senator Inhofe referred to, harmful algal blooms
and many, many others. ORD is a national resource, and I would
be very proud to lead the science team at ORD to meet the
science needs of the country and the agency.
Then the last thing is, we really need to help solve
problems, but we have to do so, as Senator Capito alluded to,
with credibility. It is important to me that we do our science
with integrity and that we develop and translate the best
available science to inform all of our partners. We need to do
policy relevant science that answers policy questions, but we
need to do rigorous, best available science. And that is the
role of ORD.
Senator Carper. Good. Thank you for that.
Dr. Reed, you had a chance to actually take a shot at the
question I am going to ask you right now. If you want to
amplify on what you said earlier, go ahead.
Here is my question. How does your experience in South
Carolina inform your understanding of what the Southeast
Crescent Regional Commission can do for communities across the
Southeast Crescent Region?
Ms. Reed. Thank you for that question.
My experience in South Carolina in education, let's start
there first. As an educator, it is my job to do long range
plans. Looking at our long range plans as an educator, I make
monthly goals, then weekly lesson plans, then daily lesson
plans. This is a process that I have done for over 30 years.
So in approaching the activities of the Southeast Crescent
Regional Commission, I would start with a strategic plan. And
in that strategic plan, then we would outline the needs and the
assets of each one of the communities in each one of the
States.
Particularly in South Carolina, we have seen how the lack
of broadband in several areas has cost us economically. The
primary goal of the Commission is economic development. So we
would need to fill the gaps in our State and in other States
where those gaps are, so that we can grow and prosper
economically across the region.
Senator Carper. All right; great. Thanks for that response.
Senator Capito.
Senator Capito. Thank you.
Dr. Frey, I wanted to ask you, I mentioned in my opening
statement that there is no nominee for the Office of Air and
Radiation. If there were a nominee, I would ask that nominee
this question as well.
Apparently, Joe Goffman, who is the current, unconfirmed
head of the Air Office, has said that the Administration is
working an initiative regarding the power sector. That leaves
us all to guess, what is that? It could be a suite of
regulations to drive down carbon dioxide emissions by squeezing
the power sector through regulations on issues other than
carbon dioxide, like emissions, water, waste. And the net
effect being to force coal and perhaps natural gas plants to
not only reduce operations but possibly close.
Are you aware of this initiative that is going on under his
leadership? Have you provided research assistance on this?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Capito.
Yes, of course it is the role of ORD to provide scientific
support and advice and information to support the work of our
program offices. ORD, for example, has the capability to do
energy mix modeling and life cycle analysis, and also to look
at the health effects related to the operations of the energy
sector. These would be the kinds of support that we can
provide.
Certainly, there are discussions within the agency on
initiatives. But as far as specific details of what the Office
of Air and Radiation is considering, I would have to defer to
that office, since our focus is on the science and not the
policy.
I would be happy to take your question back with me to the
agency.
Senator Capito. I guess my question too was to your
knowledge--at present has this already involved the office of
ORD to bring forward specific studies that would help with this
regulatory goal? Or are you not aware? Do you want to get back
to me on that?
Mr. Frey. I think I would want to get back to you on that
to give you an accurate answer.
Senator Capito. All right. That sounds good.
Also the Office of Research and Development oversees the
Integrated Risk Information Center, known as IRIS. Are you
familiar with that?
Mr. Frey. Yes.
Senator Capito. Yes. The IRIS program, I guess you must
have been alluding to this a little bit, health hazards of
certain chemicals, and hazard assessments are then used for
health standards. You know this is an issue I am very concerned
about as it relates to the PFAS issue.
The GAO has criticized EPA for the length of time to
complete an IRIS hazard assessment. The agency has been further
criticized because of the lack of usefulness of some of those
assessments.
Could you describe to me how you could modernize this
system on this program to respond to some of the previous
criticism?
Mr. Frey. Yes, thank you, Senator. The IRIS program has
been with the agency for well more than a decade, I think
longer than that. In my own career, in addition to the service
I have had on EPA advisory committees, I have served on a
number of National Academy of Science bodies, including the
Board of Environmental Studies and Toxicology that has done a
number of studies that oversee and provide advice and peer
review of IRIS.
I know that over the years, IRIS has undergone maturation
as a result of the expert peer review advice from the National
Academies. In recent years, the staff have modernized
approaches on things that we call systematic evidence mapping
and related techniques for assessing the overall body of
evidence. This has been based on recommendations from the
National Academy of Science.
We also are very mindful that in using resources for this
program, we need to complement and not be duplicative of any
other resource use in the agency. And so we do coordinate very
closely with our partners in the program offices.
IRIS assessments do serve the needs of science, of really
all of the regulatory programs, the Air, Water, Land, and
Chemicals Offices. We work very closely with the programs as
well as the EPA regions to understand for what chemicals do
they see a need for assessment, so that when we do an
assessment, it is on a chemical for which they need information
that serves a practical purpose.
Senator Capito. All right, thank you. Thank you both.
Senator Carper. I would like to refocus a little bit on
PFAS, that is something, an issue that Senator Capito and I
have focused on a lot, especially given the challenges they
face in West Virginia with PFAS and in many other States,
including Delaware around Dover Air Force Base in particular.
As you know, last week Administrator Regan, this is for Dr.
Frey, Administrator Regan released a comprehensive strategic
road map that lays out the agency's plans to address the
complicated challenges of forever chemicals known as PFAS.
Considering the role of the Office of Research and Development,
I expect that your office would have a significant role in this
effort.
My question is, under your leadership, how will the Office
of Research and Development support the implementation of EPA's
PFAS road map which was announced and laid out earlier this
month?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator Carper, for that question.
In the PFAS road map, the very first premise of that is
research. And the President and the Administrator are committed
to a science informed approach on PFAS. So ORD will certainly
have, if confirmed, under my leadership, will have a front and
center role on developing the science to support our partners
throughout the agency, but also outside the agency. As you
allude to, many States are dealing with PFAS, tribal
communities, communities in general.
There are three main things that will be my focus. No. 1 is
we actually need to develop more methods to measure PFAS in the
environment. There are literally thousands of PFAS, and yet
there are approved methods for really only a dozen or so. We
need to be able to measure them in multiple environmental
media. This is one of the research areas where ORD will
contribute. This is necessary; we have to measure it to be able
to manage it.
The second is ORD is I think leading, providing world class
leadership on how to do the toxicity testing so that we can
understand the human health and environmental effects of PFAS,
recognizing because there are so many PFAS, they are not all
the same. We have to account for variations among different
PFAS to have effective management schemes.
The third is, we have to know how to manage PFAS. What can
we do to remediate PFAS or to treat PFAS in drinking water or
waste water or to destroy PFAS. These are technologies that ORD
is assessing and providing advice to our partners.
Senator Carper. You talked earlier about wanting to be
guided by science. I think that is great. We hear that; we want
to as well. We also want to make sure that we make some
progress. The last Administration, I think it is unfair to say
we have wasted 4 years, but we didn't get much done in the last
Administration. I am pleased that this Administration has laid
out a road map. Senator Capito, myself, and others on this
Committee are anxious to make sure that we make real progress
in the next months as well as the coming year.
How to save a life? There are a lot of ways we can save a
life. One of the ways we can save a life is to make sure we
focus on PFAS and getting it right, and we are intent on doing
that.
I have maybe one last question and then will yield to
Senator Capito for any last questions or comments that she
wants to make.
Let's talk a little about tribal nations. We work on this
Committee a fair amount with tribal nations which was a
surprise to me when I joined the Committee, but it is a
pleasure and privilege. If you are confirmed, how will the
Office of Research and Development work with tribal nations
across our country to improve the natural environment and
health of indigenous Americans?
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator.
You alluded to my current role at ORD. I have been with the
agency for about 9 months. One of my priorities in coming
onboard has been to engage with tribal communities and tribal
representatives.
I am really proud that the Office of Research and
Development has a Tribal Science Council. We have a
collaborative model of working in partnership with tribal
representatives from across the country on identifying science
issues and working together with tribal scientists to address
those issues.
Certainly, we are hearing from our tribal partners about
climate change, environmental justice issues, water resources.
We also have to recognize the importance of traditional
ecological knowledge and tribal lifeways as factors that are
important to Tribes in identifying problems Tribes think are
important. We have to be careful not to assume that in our
offices in Washington, we know the answers that the Tribes
need. It is very important that we engage with Tribes.
I mentioned in my opening remarks that my leadership will
start with listening. I have been listening to the Tribes. As
part of our research planning efforts, which are actually
ongoing at this time, we will be doing formal consultation with
Tribes to internalize their concerns into our research agenda.
Senator Carper. Thank you.
Senator Capito, any last thoughts or questions you would
like to add?
Senator Capito. No. I would just like to thank both of you
for being here and your families and your support. Again, I
just want to express my gratitude for your willingness to
serve. Thank you.
Mr. Frey. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Carper. I would say I want to second that emotion.
I want to thank you both for being here today.
Dr. Reed, it is a real pleasure to see you in person.
Dr. Frey, thank you for being here today and teaching us
how to pronounce your name.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Frey. Thank you, sir.
Senator Carper. We are grateful for both of you and your
willingness to serve our country, especially at a time when we
are addressing our Nation's environmental challenges. There are
plenty of them. Also, fostering economic development is so
critical.
Dr. Reed, I spent some time as Governor, actually before
that, focusing on job creation and job preservation. The
Appalachian Regional Commission, a lot of that Commission is
included in the State that Senator Capito represents, the State
I was born in.
I mentioned to you when we spoke earlier this week,
Governors don't create jobs, Senators don't create jobs,
Presidents don't create jobs, even Chairs of regional
commissions don't create jobs. But we help create a nurturing
climate for job creation.
I mentioned the Center for Automotive Excellence in
southern Delaware. It is housed at the Delaware Technical
Community College campus. It is a partnership that involves
auto dealers, poultry industry folks, the Economic Development
Administration, Sussex County, State of Delaware, all of the
above. It is like we tied our ropes, pieces of rope, tied them
together to create a community rope. That is the best economic
development I have seen is where we do that as a partnership.
You are going to have an opportunity to help provide some
of the rope and help tie those ropes together. Make the most of
that.
Again, I want to say to your families who are here,
particularly to your dad, Dr. Reed, it is great to see him. I
want to thank him and your mom for raising you and preparing
you for all these opportunities you have had.
I would say again to Chris Frey, Dr. Frey, I know your wife
is here. Thank you for our willingness again to share your
husband. Is that your daughter over your right shoulder? What
is her name?
Mr. Frey. Loren.
Senator Carper. Loren, very nice to see you. Thank you for
joining us. You have done a really good job raising your dad.
You can be proud of the way he has turned out.
[Laughter.]
Senator Carper. If I could be serious for a moment, it is
not hard to understand why the President has nominated each of
you for these important positions. Our hope is that you can be
confirmed without delay so that you can go to work and assemble
your teams. One of the most important things to do is
assembling the team.
You have a great opportunity, Dr. Reed, to put together a
team. It is like having a blank board. Make the most of it.
Find the best people you can, and surround yourself with them.
Before we adjourn, we have a little bit of housekeeping. I
want to ask unanimous consent to submit for the record a
variety of materials that includes letters from stakeholders
and other materials that relate to today's nomination.
Is there objection?
Hearing none, so ordered.
[The referenced information follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator Carper. Senators will be allowed to submit
questions for the record through the close of business on
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021. We will compile those questions,
send them to our witnesses, and ask our witnesses to reply by
Wednesday, November 10th.
With that, this hearing is adjourned. Thank you all.
[Whereupon, at 11:14 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]