Senate Approves First Three Obama EPA Assistant Administrators

Date: May 15, 2009

Source: News Room

The Senate approved three key nominees to head EPA's enforcement, waste, and international affairs office. In a May 12 vote the Senate confirmed the nominations of Mathy Stanislaus to be assistant administrator for Solid Waste & Emergency Response, Cynthia Giles to be assistant administrator for Enforcement & Compliance Assurance, and Michelle DePass to be assistant administrator for International Affairs. The nominations encountered little resistance after winning the support of Senate Environment & Public Works Committee ranking member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). However, Inhofe joined fellow GOP committee member Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) in placing a hold on EPA air nominee Regina McCarthy, arguing that she has not eased their concerns about possible climate regulations under the Clean Air Act.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is vowing to support McCarthy's stalled nomination in a full floor vote, which could give Senate environment committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) the 60th vote she needs to move a pending motion to consider the nomination and overcome Barrasso's hold.

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