Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate confirmed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.
Only in Donald Trump’s chaotic administration does it make sense to put a menace to the environment in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency. For the last six years, Attorney General Pruitt has worked closely with big polluters to file lawsuit after lawsuit in largely failed attempts to block the EPA from doing its job to ensure Americans have safe water to drink and clean air to breathe. He’s opposed action to cut toxic mercury pollution that stunts children’s development. He’s opposed action to cut soot and smog pollution that triggers asthma attacks. He’s opposed action to clean up oil and gas operations that pollute the air in rural communities. He’s opposed any action to address the urgent threat of climate change. His record of opposing basic protections for public health and the environment is chilling, and he seems determined to continue to do the bidding of the oil industry and electric utilities at any cost.
CAP, alongside millions of Americans, will do everything in our power to hold Administrator Pruitt accountable and to defend every family’s right to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and be protected from toxic pollution.
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