Contact: Ben Schneider, bschneider@edf.org, 202-572-3279
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 9, 2019) Today, Adrienne Cooper, Director of Defend Our Future, a national grassroots organization empowering young people to take action on climate change, released the following statement on President Trump’s nomination of Andrew Wheeler to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
“Andrew Wheeler, an ex-coal lobbyist, has no business leading an agency whose mission is to protect human health and the environment. Wheeler, first as EPA’s deputy administrator and now acting administrator, has proven time and time again – from attacking America’s Clean Power Plan, to gutting clean cars standards, to undermining safeguards protecting our communities from toxic mercury pollution – that putting his corporate polluters friends before the health and safety of the American people is his priority. If confirmed, Wheeler will continue his disgraced predecessor Scott Pruitt’s legacy of ignoring sound science and dismantling decades’ worth of environmental progress.
“Millions of young people, including our own supporters, voted last November for change, for safer and healthier communities. By nominating Wheeler to head the EPA on a permanent basis, President Trump is giving us more of the same – and disregarding the majority of voters who support commonsense climate change and clean energy solutions that will benefit all our communities.
“The latest National Climate Assessment and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report serve as a stark reminder that we must act on climate. But rather than heed the warnings detailed in these reports and acknowledge the clear evidence of climate change like devastating wildfires, stronger storms and rising sea levels, Trump and Wheeler are intent on taking us backwards.
“Americans deserve an EPA administrator who will put our health, communities and future before the short-term profits of a select few corporate polluters. An ex-coal lobbyist with a record of attacking our bedrock environmental and public health safeguards cannot be allowed to serve in this position.
“On behalf of our 200,000 supporters nationwide, and for future generations, Defend Our Future opposes Andrew Wheeler’s nomination.”
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