U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released Gina McCarthy's responses to questions he submitted for the record following her April 8 hearing. McCarthy who is nominated to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces the Committee vote, the next step in her confirmation process, on Thursday.
"With days left before her confirmation hearing, McCarthy has not shown any greater commitment to a higher standard of transparency, one that the Agency desperately needs - if we are to judge from her responses to the Committee Republicans' requests," said Vitter. "So far, we have generously allowed her the time to respond to our questions and five specific transparency requests. However, the unresponsive answers received are unacceptable, and I do hope the nominee provides more detailed and adequate information before this Thursday."
During the nomination process, Vitter and Committee Republicans have repeatedly emphasized the importance of transparency within the EPA and the federal government. They reiterated the five transparency requests in addition to their questions for the record. A recent poll shows that the vast majority of Americans are in support of transparency when it comes to federal data funded by taxpayers and utilized for Agency actions.
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