Sen. Carper Statement on Nomination of Gina McCarthy for EPA Administrator

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Gina McCarthy to serve as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator:

“I welcome the President’s nomination of Gina McCarthy to serve as the next EPA Administrator. Gina has a strong background for this position, having headed up the air division of the EPA during a particularly challenging time. The EPA was directed by the federal courts to issue a number of regulations in conjunction with the Clean Air Act, and Gina was tasked with implementing them during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Many felt concerned that promulgating new regulations could short circuit the economic recovery. But at the end of the day, she helped put in place safeguards for cleaner air that protected the health of Americans without undercutting efforts to grow our economy. That’s in no small part due to her leadership. She has worked for two Republican governors, Mitt Romney in Massachusetts and Jodi Rell in Connecticut, so she’s accustomed to working in a consensus-driven way with members of both parties – a critical skill set that will serve her well in the top job at the EPA. Some folks believe that you have to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy, but Gina has helped prove that wrong. We know that’s a false choice, and Gina is well-suited to help guide the EPA through a significant period as we try to stem the tide of climate change while continuing efforts to bolster our economy. I look forward to working with her on these and other issues facing not only our country but my home state of Delaware, like curbing dangerous cross-state air pollution. Lisa Jackson leaves big shoes to fill as EPA Administrator, but I’m confident Gina will fill them and carry on the important work of ensuring robust, smart regulations to protect our environment and public health.”