Nomination of Steven Johnson to be Administrator of the Enviornmental Protection Agency

NOMINATION OF STEVEN JOHNSON TO BE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I would like to briefly discuss my vote in favor of cloture on the nomination of Stephen Johnson to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency EPA. I have always believed that the President should be granted significant deference in selecting his Cabinet and close advisers. Unlike judicial nominees, the EPA Administrator will serve for 4 years at the President's discretion.

Furthermore, the President made a good choice. Stephen Johnson, who has served the country for 24 years as a career EPA employee, is a well-qualified nominee who enjoys broad public support. When his nomination was considered by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this spring, the committee approved his nomination by a vote of 17-1. He will serve the country well as Administrator of the EPA.

I share my colleagues' concerns about the administration's refusal to provide the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with EPA's analysis of the clean air bills pending before the Senate. I am proud to cosponsor Senator Jeffords' Clean Power Act, and I believe that the administration's Clear Skies proposal is woefully inadequate. I agree that the information Senator Carper has requested from EPA is vitally important to evaluate the differing clean air regulation proposals. EPA's refusal to turn over its analysis indicates that its own data do not lend support to the Clear Skies initiative. Disclosure of Government data to the public is a cornerstone of our democracy, and this administration has continually attempted to avoid congressional oversight. I implore Mr. Johnson, on his first day as EPA Administrator, to turn over these documents to the Senator Carper and Senator Jeffords. To restore credibility to the agency that is supposed to safeguard human health and the environment, Administrator Johnson should release this information immediately.

Nonetheless, I do not believe that the administration's refusal to provide this information should stand in the way of this qualified nominee leading the Nation's Environmental Protection Agency.

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