WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a committee business meeting to consider the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The remarks came in response to the committee's Democrats boycotting the business meeting.
Senator Barrasso's remarks:
“I want to just close with stating that not having a vote on this nominee today, not organizing this important committee, is a shame.
“I believe no one is served, no environmental goal is achieved, by acting in this obstructionist way.
“I want quote my colleague from Oregon, on the other side of the aisle, when he stated on May of 2013, he said ‘What we have today is an embarrassing derelictionof public responsibility. And the word embarrassing doesn't capture the grave harm that is coming from members of this body deciding to abuse the advise and consent obligation that this body has, this Senate has under our Constitution.'
“To the members of this committee, I tell you I pledge to move the nomination of Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as expeditiously as possible.
“This committee is in recess, subject to the call of the chair."
