[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I thank the assistant minority leader.
  Certainly in having the discussion on the floor about Christine Todd 
Whitman and her nomination to be the director of the EPA--I have served 
on the Environment and Public Works Committee since I have been in the 
Senate--I can say what a refreshing change it is going to be. I have 
watched her record and things for which she stands. She is someone who 
really believes in a commonsense approach to solving problems. She has 
experience as Governor and has the desire for cost-effective programs 
and environmental beliefs. I am very pleased that she is going to take 
on this job at a time when we really have serious problems.
  For the last 8 years, we have not had a reliance upon science in the 
promulgation of our rules and regulations. We haven't had the cost-
benefit analyses that I think most people realize we should have. I 
think there is a lot of work to be done.
  I was very upset when we ended up with the so-called ``midnight 
regulations.'' I applaud President Bush for issuing a 60-day review of 
all of the Clinton administration's midnight regulations. For example, 
one of the regulations was the final rule, the sulfur diesel rule which 
spent 2 weeks at the OMB instead of the customary 90 days. This is 
something that will have a direct effect on the cost of fuel, something 
we were having hearings on, and we didn't need to rush into that. Or 
some of the regulations having to do with putting 60 million acres out 
of reach so that they cannot be developed or have roads built on them.
  Right now, we have a crisis in this country. Some States have a 
greater crisis than we have. But certainly it is a crisis in terms of 
the price of fuel and the availability of fuel. By putting this 60 
million acres in the category that it is in, it would keep us from 
developing about 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That would be 
enough to run this country for a period of 1 year.
  The EPA doesn't operate in a vacuum. Some of the things they have and 
the rules they promulgate affect other departments. I happen to be 
chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness. And I 
can tell you right now that some of the EPA regulations on our training 
grounds have caused us to be less than adequate in our training 
activities. In fact, we have testimony from one of our commander 
trainers that they spend more money on compliance of EPA rules and 
regulations than they do actually on training.
  In terms of the energy supply, we can't just act as though all of 
these new rules and regulations affecting our refiners don't have an 
effect on cost. They do have an effect on cost of gasoline that we burn 
in our cars. It is something that will have to be dealt with. Right 
now, we are at 100 percent of refining capacity in this country. Any 
new rules and regulations that would cause any of these refiners to 
drop down directly impacts and increases the cost of fuel.
  If I could single out one thing that I am really thankful for in 
Christine Todd Whitman taking on this position, it is that she has been 
on the receiving end of abusive regulations. She has been the Governor 
of a State that had to comply with things without adequate time, 
without the resources, and I think it is time we had someone in that 
position who has been on the receiving end of these regulations. I am 
sure Christine Todd Whitman will be one of the best directors we have 
ever had for the EPA.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. REED. Thank you, Mr. President.

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