WHAT THEY SAID

QUOTES ON SCOTT PRUITT’S NOMINATION ADVANCING OUT OF COMMITTEE

“The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee made the right step to end the grandstanding by a minority of its committee members and move forward on Scott Pruitt’s inevitable confirmation to be the next EPA administrator. Pruitt has promised to return the agency back to its core functions and to include all stakeholders when drafting regulations to protect the environment. The era of EPA being a political action arm for the far left, where the agency issued legally questionable regulations punishing sectors of America’s economy that didn’t align with their vision, is coming to an end. We look forward to supporting Scott Pruitt’s vision of a nation that is both proenergy and pro-environment.”

— Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association President Chad Warmington

“By any measure, the president could hardly have found — and the committee could not have approved — a worse nominee to be in charge of public health and environmental protection. As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt’s crusade of more than a dozen lawsuits filed against the EPA to stop efforts aimed at reducing air and water pollution to protect Americans is unmatched. Time and time again, Pruitt said “no” when policies were proposed or rules implemented that would save lives, including initiatives specifically intended to protect children.”

— Environmental Working Group President and Co-Founder Ken Cook

“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation by the ... committee is a step in the right direction for Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industry. For the past eight years, increased, unnecessary and burdensome regulations have been put in place by a White House administration bent on slowing oil and natural gas production. As attorney general, Scott Pruitt has been a consistent challenger to overreaching EPA regulations, and his appointment will change the course of how the EPA is utilized by the White House administration.”

— Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association Vice President of Governmental Affairs Tim Wigley

“Scott Pruitt is particularly unqualified and unfit to lead the Environmental Protection Agency because his record clearly demonstrates an open hostility to the core mission and focus of the agency he now seeks to lead. People across our country have a right to clean air and water, and they deserve an Environmental Protection Agency Administrator who can be counted on to fight for the health and safety of all communities. Scott Pruitt has offered no indication that he can or would be that advocate for the public, so we urge all senators to oppose him on the floor.”

— Earthjustice Vice President of Policy and Legislation Martin Hayden

“While I am pleased that the EPW Committee has reported the nomination of Scott Pruitt to be EPA administrator out of committee, it is extremely disappointing that my Democrat colleagues once again boycotted this vote. Pruitt has been more than accommodating, answering more than a thousand questions; his hearing was the most comprehensive hearing in recorded history and, as I have said many times, Scott went above and beyond to appease the minority panel. For years, as chairman of this committee, I worked hand-in-hand with Democrats and we were able to accomplish many truly remarkable things. I applaud Chairman Barrasso for working to hold this vote and I look forward to once again finding common ground with my Democrat colleagues. Once confirmed by the Senate, Scott Pruitt will be an exceptional EPA Administrator.”

— Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa