Sen. Carper Statement on Republican Obstruction of Gina McCarthy’s Nomination to Lead the EPA

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, released the following statement when Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee boycotted a committee markup of Gina McCarthy’s nomination to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“Today, I came to an EPW business meeting prepared to proudly support Gina McCarthy’s nomination for EPA Administrator. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle decided to obstruct our markup and block our committee from even taking up Gina’s nomination. Over the past few years, as chairman of the clean air subcommittee, I’ve worked closely with Gina in her role as the EPA’s air chief. She has consistently proven to be a smart, capable, pragmatic leader for strengthening vital environmental protections while ensuring that they wouldn’t undercut the economic recovery. Gina is well-suited to take the helm of the EPA and lead it in an inclusive manner, having served both Republican and Democratic governors as well as a Democratic President. She works towards consensus while understanding deeply that our country – and our world – can have both a clean environment and a strong economy. Attempts to block Gina’s nomination and leave yet another presidential appointee in limbo before the Senate are unwarranted. Gina has answered over 1,000 questions and met with almost half of the Senate, including all of my colleagues on the EPW committee. I think she has gone above and beyond the requirements of a nominee. I am deeply disappointed in my Republican colleagues for not even showing up to take this vote. I hope that we can soon reschedule this meeting, and I urge my colleagues to support this qualified nominee with a noted bipartisan track record.”