On the recordNovember 8, 2017
I rise in opposition to the nomination of William Wehrum to be EPA's Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Wehrum for the very same job in 2005. He was not confirmed then but was able to serve in that role on an acting basis--something he could not lawfully do today. At the time, I voted against Mr. Wehrum's nomination because I feared he would impede efforts to clean our air and protect the health of Americans. Sadly, my fears have been proved well-founded. Twenty times, the courts found that clean air regulations that Mr. Wehrum helped craft did not follow the law or protect public health. Since leaving EPA in 2007, Mr. Wehrum has spent his time suing the Agency. Mr. Wehrum was elusive in answering our questions. When asked which clean air regulations he supports, he could not name a single one--not one. Mr. Wehrum's extreme views are not good for public health and, quite frankly, the legal uncertainty that stems from his judgment would not be good for American businesses. That is why I call on all of my colleagues to join me in opposition to this nomination. Thank you. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
