[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFIRMATION OF ANDREW WHEELER

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, last year, Democrats kept the Senate in 
session all night to protest the nomination of Scott Pruitt to lead the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
  We took this unusual step to protest Mr. Pruitt's hostility to the 
EPA's core mission and to highlight how his close ties to the fossil 
fuel industry could lead to serious conflicts of interest and breaches 
of the public trust.
  Over the past year, Mr. Pruitt has exemplified the toxic mixture of 
corruption and hostility to government we have come to expect from the 
Trump administration.
  Mr. Pruitt has radically changed the EPA's mission during his time in 
office.
  He has abandoned the Agency's traditional mission to protect human 
health and the environment--a commitment that spanned administrations 
of both parties--in favor of serving the narrow interests of his 
friends in the fossil fuel industry.
  During his tenure, Mr. Pruitt has begun work to repeal the Clean 
Power Plan, roll back vehicle fuel economy standards, and eliminate 
commonsense protections for our air and water.
  These actions are only three examples of the damage he is doing to 
our country and environment as the Administrator of the EPA.
  Through his actions, Mr. Pruitt confirms he does not understand why 
Congress and President Nixon established the EPA in the first place.
  Mr. Pruitt's policy agenda is damaging enough, but we can scarcely go 
a week without learning about a new scandal or breach of the public 
trust at the EPA.
  Mr. Pruitt is already being investigated for his first-class travel, 
spending tens of thousands of dollars on a soundproof phone booth, and 
providing massive pay increases to his political appointees.
  Earlier this month, we learned that Mr. Pruitt got a sweetheart deal 
from an energy lobbyist to rent an apartment on Capitol Hill at way 
below market rate.
  Scott Pruitt should be fired for cause, but I also find myself 
agreeing with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for once. Scott 
Pruitt never should have been appointed EPA Administrator in the first 
place.

  Earlier today, the Senate voted to confirm Andrew Wheeler to be the 
Deputy EPA Administrator. I strongly opposed and voted against his 
nomination.
  At a time when the current EPA Administrator is under siege for his 
lack of ethics, we don't need a Deputy Administrator who will 
prioritize the interests of the fossil fuel industry over the public's.
  Prior to his confirmation, Mr. Wheeler worked as a fossil fuel 
lobbyist at a major DC law firm.
  His lobbying clients included Murray Energy, the largest privately 
owned coal firm in the United States.
  Bob Murray, the head of the company, is one of President Trump's 
biggest supporters in the industry.
  We certainly don't need another fossil fuel ally undermining the 
EPA's mission to protect public health in a senior leadership position 
at the Agency.
  During his confirmation hearing last November, Mr. Wheeler continued 
to question the overwhelming scientific consensus about climate change. 
He was voted out of committee on a narrow, party-line vote.
  There is a serious ethical cloud hanging over the EPA, and I am 
disappointed that the majority leader forced a vote on Mr. Wheeler's 
nomination before we had a chance to question the nominee about the 
ongoing turmoil at the Agency.
  Although we weren't successful in blocking Andrew Wheeler's 
nomination today, I will continue to hold the EPA accountable for the 
damage it is doing to our environment and our country.

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