Congress Must Ensure EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Protects our Water, Air and Wildlife

On Friday February 17, 2017, the Senate approved Scott Pruitt to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a vote of 52-46.  The National Wildlife Federation opposed this confirmation – a first for the organization – based on concerns that his record indicated that he: (1) would not adhere to science-based decision-making; (2) wouldn’t properly uphold our environmental laws; and (3) wouldn’t place the interests of the American people over special interests.

National Wildlife Federation thanks the Senators who stood up for clean air, clean water and wildlife and voted against Administrator Pruitt despite difficult political headwinds.  

We are disappointed in the votes of several Senators who have often championed conservation but who supported Mr. Pruitt’s confirmation. We will now count on these Senators to help ensure that Administrator Pruitt meets his responsibilities to follow the law and best available science in executing the duties of his office.

“It is critical that Congressional members who supported Scott Pruitt ensure that he carry out the obligations and responsibilities of the post that he has assumed,” according to NWF President and CEO Collin O’Mara.

National Wildlife Federation also thanks the thousands of members and supporters who called or wrote their Senators, wrote letters to the editor, and took other important actions to stand up for wildlife, clean air and clean water, and make sure their voice was heard.  The enthusiasm to protect wildlife could not be higher and we all now must turn our attention to make sure that Congress upholds the fundamental protections for our air, water, wildlife and outdoor heritage.

Here is a list of how the Senators voted:

Alabama: Senator Richard Shelby – YES,  Senator Luther Strange – YES

Arkansas: Senator Lisa Murkowski – YES,  Senator Dan Sullivan – YES

Arizona: Senator John McCain – DID NOT VOTE,  Senator Jeff Flake -YES

Arkansas: Senator John Boozman – YES,  Senator Tom Cotton – YES

California: Senator Diane Feinstein – NO,  Senator Kamala Harris – NO

Colorado: Senator Michael Bennet – NO,  Senator Cory Gardner – YES

Connecticut: Senator Richard Blumenthal – NO,  Senator Chris Murphy – NO

Delaware: Senator Tom Carper – NO,  Senator Chris Coons – NO

Florida: Senator Bill Nelson – NO,  Senator Marco Rubio -YES

Georgia: Senator Johnny Isakson -YES,  Senator David Perdue – YES

Hawaii: Senator Brian Schatz – NO,  Senator Mazie Hirono – NO

Idaho: Senator Mike Crapo – YES,  Senator Jim Risch – YES

Illinois: Senator Dick  Durbin – NO,  Senator Tammy Duckworth – NO

Indiana: Senator Joe Donnelly – DID NOT VOTE,  Senator Todd Young – YES

Iowa: Senator Chuck Grassley – YES,  Senator Joni Ernst – YES

Kansas: Senator Pat Roberts – YES,  Senator Jerry Moran – YES

Kentucky: Senator Mitch McConnell – YES,  Senator Rand  Paul – YES

Louisiana: Senator Bill Cassidy – YES,  Senator John Kennedy – YES

Maine: Senator Susan Collins – NO,  Senator Angus King – NO

Maryland: Senator Ben Cardin – NO,  Senator Chris Von Hollen – NO

Massachusetts: Senator Elizabeth Warren – NO,  Senator Ed Markey – NO

Michigan: Senator Debbie Stabenow – NO,  Senator Gary Peters – NO

Minnesota: Senator Amy Klobuchar – NO,  Senator Al Franken – NO

Mississippi: Senator Thad Cochran -YES,  Senator Roger Wicker – YES

Missouri: Senator Claire McCaskill – NO,  Senator Roy Blunt – YES

Montana: Senator Jon Tester – NO,  Senator Steve Daines – YES

Nebraska: Senator Deb Fischer – YES,  Senator Ben Sasse -YES

Nevada: Senator Dean Heller – YES,  Senator Catherine Cortez Masto – NO

New Hampshire: Senator Jeanne Shaheen – NO,  Senator Maggie Hassan – NO

New Jersey: Senator Bob Menendez – NO,  Senator Cory Booker – NO

New Mexico: Senator Tom Udall – NO,  Senator Martin Heinrich – NO

New York: Senator Chuck Schumer – NO,  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand – NO

North Carolina: Senator Richard Burr – YES,  Senator Thom Tillis – YES

North Dakota: Senator John Hoeven – YES,  Senator Heidi Heitkamp – YES

Ohio: Senator Sherrod Brown – NO,  Senator Rob Portman – YES

Oklahoma: Senator Jim Inhofe – YES,  Senator James Lankford – YES

Oregon: Senator Ron Wyden – NO,  Senator Jeff Merkley – NO

Pennsylvania: Senator Bob Casey – NO,  Senator Pat Toomey – YES

Rhode Island: Senator Jack Reed – NO,  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse – NO

South Carolina:  Senator Lindsey Graham – YES,  Senator Tim Scott – YES

South Dakota: Senator John Thune – YES,  Senator  Mike Rounds – YES

Tennessee: Senator Lamar Alexander – YES,  Senator Bob Corker – YES

Texas: Senator John Cornyn – YES,  Senator Ted Cruz – YES

Utah: Senator Orrin Hatch – YES,  Senator Mike Lee – YES

Vermont: Senator Patrick Leahy – NO,  Senator Bernie Sanders – NO

Virginia: Senator Mark Warner – NO,  Senator Tim Kaine – NO

Washington: Senator Patty Murray – NO,  Senator Maria Cantwell – NO

West Viriginia: Senator Joe Manchin – YES,  Senator Shelley Moore Capito – YES

Wisconsin: Senator Ron Johnson – YES,  Senator Tammy Baldwin – NO

Wyoming: Senator Mike Enzi – YES,  Senator Mike Barasso – YES

Please contact your senator and let them know that Congress must ensure Administrator Pruitt does his job to protect wildlife, the environment and the great outdoors.