[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22600-22601]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          NOMINATION OF GOVERNOR MIKE LEAVITT TO HEAD THE EPA

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I rise to commend President Bush for 
nominating Gov. Mike Leavitt to be head of the Environmental Protection 
Agency. Governor Leavitt's hearing was this morning and, from all 
accounts, he performed admirably, as I would expect. He is a 
distinguished public servant who has worked diligently to address the 
environmental problems in Utah and the Western States.
  I believe the President has found the right person for the job of 
leading the EPA. The EPA Administrator must establish realistic 
regulations that often require compromise and balance. In my 
experience, almost all of the issues that deal with our environment 
require a good sense of balance because there

[[Page 22601]]

are so many competing interests. Governor Leavitt has demonstrated his 
ability to work with all groups affected by environmental regulation. 
He pulled together, for example, Governors, tribal leaders, industrial 
leaders, and environmental activists to get behind a comprehensive plan 
to clear the haze obscuring the scenic views in the West, including the 
Grand Canyon.
  For nearly 11 years, Governor Leavitt managed to bring together a 
diverse group of State and tribal officials, industrial leaders, and 
environmental activists who focused on developing a plan which led to 
action that is clearing the air in the West.
  I hope that a similar plan can be developed to clear the haze in the 
great Smoky Mountain National Park, which is about 2 miles from where I 
live. It is the Nation's most visited national park, and it also has 
earned the unwelcome distinction of becoming the most polluted national 
park in America.
  We welcome the help of Governor Leavitt as head of the EPA in coming 
up and working with our Governor and Federal delegation and our 
communities in Tennessee, who are very concerned about this, to help 
get on a long-term path that would clear the haze in the Smokies and 
restore its natural beauty.
  This will require cooperation among local, State, and Federal 
Governments and industry and environmental activists. I believe 
Governor Leavitt is the right person to help lead that effort. He has 
demonstrated he can do this by getting collaboration among groups 
instead of polarization.
  As Governor, Mike Leavitt has encouraged results-oriented 
environmental action. I strongly support his views that policy should 
encourage outside-the-box thinking in solving problems rather than just 
complying with Federal programs.
  Our environmental problems are complex. They require examination of 
many strategies to achieve our Nation's goals. The EPA Administrator 
plays a crucial role in balancing our desire to protect the environment 
and our desire for jobs and prosperity.
  I believe we can have good jobs and strong industry and clean air and 
clean energy. The solutions are not easy, and in most cases--many 
cases--require new technology. However, with Governor Leavitt's 
leadership, I believe we will be able to develop the solutions and 
partnership to meet realistic environmental goals.
  The job of protecting the environment is a difficult one, one in 
which I take a great personal interest. The President of the United 
States--this President--has distinguished himself by making a number of 
superb appointments. He has made another such nomination, and I look 
forward to the chance to vote for Mike Leavitt as EPA Administrator.
  May I add just a personal note, Mr. President? I was elected Governor 
first in 1978 in Tennessee. Since then, I have known more than 200 
Governors, probably served with 80 or 100. Only a handful of those 
Governors, some on each side of the aisle--Democratic and Republican--
have really understood the job, have used that office to set a clear 
agenda to develop a strategy to meet the agenda, and then persuade at 
least half the people they are right. All three of those elements are 
being part of being a good Governor. Those Governors have transformed 
their States.
  Mike Leavitt is one of those Governors. Because of that, he was 
elected to be the chair of the National Governors' Association. He 
would not have been elected, and he would not have succeeded in the job 
if he had not been able to work with both Democratic and Republican 
Governors. He has earned and shares the respect of all who have known 
and worked with him. He is one of the outstanding State leaders of the 
last quarter of a century. He has a great sense of balance. He has an 
imaginative sense of what is possible, and he has an excellent ability 
to persuade half that he is right, which is a very important part of 
doing that job.
  I am very pleased to see him coming to Washington, and I am delighted 
with President Bush's appointment. I wanted to be among the first to 
welcome him here. I thank the Chair.

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