Confirmation of Andrew Wheeler

Floor Speech

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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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