“With the impending release of as many as 3,000 emails on this matter, it is only right that we delay Mr. Pruitt’s confirmation vote until we have had time to thoroughly review this information. It is our job as U.S. Senators to ensure nominees are adequately vetted and failure to do so is a disservice to Americans.”
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement outlining her opposition to Scott Pruitt’s nomination to serve as the next Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA), and her support in extending the debate on Pruitt’s nomination until his email correspondence with the oil, gas, and coal industries is released:
“Scott Pruitt spent a majority of his tenure as Oklahoma’s attorney general suing the agency he is nominated to lead and fighting against its fundamental mission of protecting the environment – usually under the great influence of corporations whose donations helped advance his political career. His long record of vehemently opposing limits on greenhouse gas emissions risks decades worth of progress on climate change and his crusades against commonsense measures that ensure clean air and clean water risk the safety of our communities. Nevadans cannot afford an EPA administrator who will endanger their health and one who blatantly disregards scientific data only to appease the oil and gas industry.
“For the health and safety of Americans, and for future generations who are counting on us to protect the environment, I will vote ‘no’ on his nomination. If confirmed, Mr. Pruitt would be in a position to inflict irreversible environmental damage and we must do everything we can to stop him.
“Furthermore, Mr. Pruitt’s has failed to be transparent and forthcoming throughout the confirmation process. Serious questions about his close ties with the oil, gas, and coal industries remain given Mr. Pruitt’s refusal thus far to release email correspondence he had during his time as AG. With the impending release of as many as 3,000 emails on this matter, it is only right that we delay Mr. Pruitt’s confirmation vote until we have had time to thoroughly review this information. It is our job as U.S. Senators to ensure nominees are adequately vetted and failure to do so is a disservice to Americans.”
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