Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of Regina McCarthy to be Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency. I would also like to thank Chairman Boxer and the members of the Environment and Public Works Committee for their support of this excellent and deserving nominee. While I think it is regrettable that her confirmation was delayed for so long, I am glad that she will soon be able to get to work on finding solutions to the many important environmental issues facing our nation.

I congratulate President Obama on nominating such a remarkably qualified, energetic, and passionate individual to serve as Assistant Administrator. Commissioner McCarthy has 25 years of experience working at all levels of local and State government and has a depth and breadth of knowledge on environmental issues that few can rival. She has also served under both Democratic and Republican Governors, in Massachusetts as well as my home State of Connecticut. In both States and in all capacities, Gina has been universally recognized as a uniquely talented environmental advocate.

As commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection since 2004, Gina has amassed an impressive record of accomplishments. She spearheaded the ``No Child Left Inside'' initiative in Connecticut and nationwide, which combines environmental education with numerous outdoor programs to promote physical activity while teaching kids to become good stewards of the environment. She has also been a key proponent of sustainable economic development in Connecticut, has worked tirelessly to reinvigorate our State park system, and has been a terrific advocate for open space and conservation initiatives.

Perhaps most prominently, Commissioner McCarthy was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, RGGI, the Nation's first mandatory cap and trade program, which was adopted by 10 States in the Northeast to address the grave threat of climate change. The commissioner's work on the issue of climate change has been recognized and lauded nationally, and her experience will be invaluable when she is confirmed as Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. President Obama has made it clear that addressing climate change is a top priority for his administration, and as Assistant Administrator, Gina will play a vital role in developing and implementing policies to control greenhouse gas emissions.

In my view, this incredible list of accomplishments does not do justice to the qualities Gina will bring to her new position once she is confirmed. Across my State she has a well-deserved reputation for her boundless energy, incredible passion and determination, and willingness to speak frankly in order to address challenges head on.

Indeed, she has made such an enormous impact that on March 14, the Hartford Courant ran an editorial entitled ``DEP Chief Gina McCarthy a Hard Act to Follow,'' which praised both her passion for the issues and her pragmatic approach. The Courant specifically noted her ability to revitalize a department which had lost the public's trust and engage people across the State in preserving Connecticut's landscape and Long Island Sound.

Once again, I congratulate Gina McCarthy and strongly urge all my colleagues to support her nomination. Connecticut's loss is a win for our Nation. And, while we are sad to see her leave Connecticut, I am confident that Gina will continue to be the outstanding advocate for the environment and public health she has always been and I look forward to working with her in her new capacity at the EPA.

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