By Matthew Daly, Associated Press
Washington (AP)-the Senate controlled by Republicans confirmed on Wednesday to Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his promise to reverse the main environmental regulations, including those destined to decelerate Climate change and encouraging use. of electric vehicles.
The vote was 56-42 in favor of Zeldin.
Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York, is a Trump ally for a long time and served in Trump’s defense team during his first political trial. He voted against certifying Trump’s electoral loss against President Joe Biden.
Zeldin, 44, said during Your confirmation audience who has the moral responsibility of being a good environmental administrator and promised to support the professional staff who has dedicated themselves to the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment.
Zeldin repeatedly refused to commit to specific policies, however, promising not prejudging the results before reaching EPA. When Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska asked him if he would reverse programs that promote electric cars, a program that Trump has repeatedly criticized, Zeldin remained vague but acknowledged that he has heard republican complaints.
Trump directed efforts to dismantle more than 100 environmental protections. During his first term And he has promised to do it again, pointing to what he falsely tag a “mandate” of electric vehicle and “New Green Scam” approved by the Democrats.
Trump, who has called for climate change a deception, has promised to revoke the greatest climatic achievements of former President Joe Biden, including Exhaust tube regulations for vehicles and cut Pollution of electrical plants fired by coal and natural gas. Trump has already moved to expel the career staff in the EPA and other agencies, eliminate scientific advisors and close an office that helps minority communities that struggles disproportionately with contaminated air and water.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island called Zeldin the wrong man for work.
“We need an EPA administrator who takes climate change seriously, we will treat science honestly and stand when necessary at the political pressure that will come from the White House, where we have a president who really believes (climate change) It is a hoax, and of the huge fossil fuel forces that promoted him in charge with huge amounts of political money and now think they own the place, “Whitehouse said in a Senate speech.
Trump is “under the thumb of the fossil fuel industry,” said Whitause, added that the EPA administrator “has to be honest and objective and support and defend our environment and our security of climate change.”
He has nothing against Zeldin personally, Whitehouse added: “But the probability that it will face that excavator of fossil fuel that comes towards him is essentially zero. And in that context, this is the wrong guy. “
Senator John Barraso, Republican of Wyo.
Barraso called Zeldin “a public servant of a lifetime” and an experienced lawyer with an acute legal mind and more than 20 years of military service.
Zeldin will continue Trump’s “mission to make a triumph, political regulations” in the EPA, “cut bureaucracy” and supervise “a new wave of creativity and innovation,” said Barraso.
“During the last four years, the so -called experts from the Environmental Protection Agency made a reckless regulatory uproar,” said Barsso, referring to the Biden Administration. “American families and companies attended higher costs and restrictions. They bowed to climate extremism and ignored common sense. “
Zeldin “will correct the ship and restore the balance in the EPA,” said Barraso, citing possible actions to repeal the rules of the Biden era on the emissions of exhaust pipes and electric power plants, together with the elimination of federal subsidies for federal subsidies electric vehicles.
The League of Conservation Voters, a National Environmental Defense Group, has criticized Zeldin’s Environmental Life Registry, giving him a 14%score. Like all Republicans at that time, he voted against the inflation reduction law of 2022 aimed at promoting renewable energy and manufacturing and combating climate change.
Zeldin supported a bill to reduce harmful chemicals forever, called PFA, which would have required the EPA to establish limits in substances in drinking water. He was also an outstanding proponent of 2020 Great act of American outdoor, that used oil and gas royalties to help the national parks service to face its accumulation of mass maintenance. He has also supported local conservation efforts in Long Island.
Zeldin said at his January 16 audience that he wants to collaborate with the private sector “to promote intelligent regulation of common sense that will allow US innovation to continue leading the world.”
The EPA under its leadership “will prioritize compliance as much as possible,” said Zeldin. “I believe in the rule of law and I want to work with people to make sure they do their part to protect the environment.”
