[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5059-S5060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Todd Sunhwae Kim

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, this week, the Senate will consider the 
nomination of Todd Kim to be Assistant Attorney General for the Justice 
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division, known as ENRD. 
This Division acts as our Nation's environmental law firm. It leads 
efforts to reduce pollution and protect our Nation's precious national 
resources by enforcing Federal, civil, and criminal environmental laws, 
including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and hazardous waste 
laws. At least that is what it is designed to do.
  Under the previous President, Donald Trump, ENRD took some troubling 
steps in the wrong direction. It prioritized protecting polluters over 
the environment.
  With more than 1\1/2\ million acres of the United States currently 
burning in a wildfire season that has been greatly exacerbated by 
climate change, we are mindful of the critical importance of vigorous 
enforcement of our Nation's environmental laws.
  What the Division needs now is a leader who will bring back 
integrity, expertise, and a renewed commitment to enforcing our 
Nation's environmental and natural resources law. Mr. Kim is that 
leader. In fact, his career in environmental law began at ENRD, where 
he worked as a trial attorney. During his time with the Division, he 
was awarded the Justice Department's Outstanding Performance Award on 
three separate occasions. As a trial lawyer there, he spent 8 years 
representing the United States zealously and apolitically under both 
the Clinton and Bush administrations.
  Mr. Kim's principled leadership in that role has earned him praise 
across the ideological spectrum. He has the strong support of former 
ENRD officials from both parties. Over 80 environmental law experts and 
academics, who often don't agree on many things, all believe he is the 
right person. They wrote: ``ENRD deserves one of the nation's best 
lawyers at its helm. Todd Kim promises to be just such a leader.''
  Mr. Kim also has experience leading a large legal department. He 
served as the District of Columbia's first solicitor general, a role he 
held for over a decade.
  Additionally, Mr. Kim has received support from Asian-American 
organizations, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the 
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
  His nomination received strong, bipartisan support on our committee. 
Four of my Republican colleagues--

[[Page S5060]]

Senators Grassley, Graham, Cornyn, and Tillis--joined the Democratic 
members in advancing his nomination.
  With Mr. Kim leading the ENRD, the American people can trust our 
Nation's public lands and natural resources will be protected by a 
proven expert and an accomplished lawyer. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in voting in favor of his nomination.