On Senate Floor, Shaheen Says Pruitt Puts Corporate Interests Ahead of “Public Interest and Public Health”

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(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) spoke on the Senate floor today in opposition of Scott Pruitt, President Trump's nominee to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Shaheen voiced her concerns about Pruitt's record as Attorney General of Oklahoma, including his many lawsuits in favor of the oil and gas companies, and his outspoken position denying climate change, which puts him at odds with the mission of the EPA. "Mr. Pruitt has been nominated not to lead the EPA forward, but to prevent it from carrying out its mission," said Shaheen. "Make no mistake, Mr. Pruitt and his extreme agenda are a threat to the environment, to the planet, and to public health."

Shaheen spoke of climate change impacts in New Hampshire, where warmer temperatures are affecting tourism and outdoor recreation as well as maple syrup production and the moose population. "People in my State of New Hampshire have no doubt about the reality of climate change... we see it and experience it every day." Shaheen also cited the significant progress New Hampshire has made reducing its power-sector carbon pollution through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, putting the state on track to meet the Clean Power Plan's carbon-reduction goals 10 years early. "Across New England, we are demonstrating that smart energy choices can benefit the environment and strengthen job-creation and the economy overall," Shaheen said.

Shaheen went on to read letters that her office received from Granite Staters, both Democrats and Republicans, who "not only oppose Mr. Pruitt's nomination, they genuinely fear the consequences of putting him in charge of the EPA." Christopher Morgan of Amherst, NH wrote: "This is my first message I have ever sent to my senator in my 32 years as a voting American. . . . As a registered Republican . . . I am vehemently opposed to Mr. Pruitt leading the EPA. He has consistently shown he does not believe in the threat posed by climate change. Climate change affects every citizen in this country and has had a detrimental effect on the NH climate specifically."

"Mr. Pruitt's nomination is not about 'shaking things up in Washington,'" said Shaheen. "It is about turning over control of the EPA to the fossil fuel industry - and turning back the clock on a half century of bipartisan efforts - in Democratic and Republican administrations alike - to protect clean air and clean water, and to pass on to our children a livable environment and habitable Earth."

Shaheen urged her Senate colleagues to oppose Pruitt's confirmation and "reject this effort to un-do nearly five decades of bipartisan efforts to protect our environment and planet."