SHAHEEN MEETS WITH EPA NOMINEE, RENEWS CALL FOR SWIFT CONFIRMATION VOTE

(Washington, DC) – After meeting with Gina McCarthy, the nominee to be Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this afternoon, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today renewed her call for a swift confirmation vote on McCarthy’s nomination.  Shaheen, who has been a leader on energy efficiency policy and is the co-author of the bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competiveness Act, reaffirmed her commitment to bringing McCarthy’s nomination forward to a vote despite partisan obstructionism in the Senate.

“Ms. McCarthy has the expertise and experience to fully carry out the duties of EPA Administrator, and I’m disappointed Republicans are holding up her nomination because of partisan politics,” Shaheen said. “Ms. McCarthy is extremely qualified to lead the EPA and there is no reason to block her nomination.  Her nomination deserves a vote and it deserves a vote immediately.”

McCarthy, who serves as assistant EPA administrator for air and radiation, was nominated to head the agency in March.  Despite an unprecedented boycott from Republicans to attend committee hearings, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved McCarthy's nomination in May, and the full Senate could vote on McCarthy’s nomination as early as next week.