While Attorney General Scott Pruitt waits during a Democrat-caused delay of a Senate confirmation vote on his nomination to head the EPA, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is drumming up support for him.
Speaking Monday on the Senate floor, Sen. John Barrasso told the full Senate that Pruitt should be confirmed.
“Through 6 hours of questioning before our committee last week, Scott Pruitt showed that he understands the need of returning the Environmental Protection Agency back to the original course,” said the Senator from Wyoming. “He showed he’s committed to working as a partner to Americans across the country to find the best way to address this threat to our environment.”
Sen. Barrasso described Pruitt as a man whose record in Oklahoma showed he is committed to restoring and maintaining the rule of law at the EPA.
“I’m confident Attorney General Pruitt will be able to right the ship at the EPA,” added Barrasso, the Senator who replaced Sen. Jim Inhofe as Committee chairman. “I’m confident he can restore the balance between the benefit the agency can deliver with the cost imposed.”
While Barrasso did not make any attacks on Democrats for delaying the confirmation vote, his office released information showing that Pruitt answered the most questions of any nominee to be Administrator of the EPA.
He said Pruitt’s confirmation hearing “was the most thorough on record. the committee held three rounds of questioning for five minutes each, followed by a fourth round for three minutes each. Mr. Pruitt was asked at least 206 total questions during the hearing,significantly more than EPA administrators for past incoming presidential administration.”
He said Administrator Carol Browner, nominated by President Bill Clinton was asked at least 105 questions. Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, nominated by President George W. Bush was asked at least 64 questions. Administrator Lisa Jackson, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, was asked at least 69 questions.
“This is the most total questions asked of an EPA nominee on record,” concluded Sen. Barrasso.
Listen to his comments about Pruitt in the floor speech.