Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gina McCarthy. The Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to vote on her nomination tomorrow.
“When you come from a beautiful state like Colorado, you understand the value of protecting our environment for future generations. Clean air, clean water and protected public lands make Colorado an attractive place to locate a new business and underpin much of our state’s dynamic economy, from agriculture to tourism. It is clear that Ms. McCarthy, through her current role at the EPA and her past experiences, understands the importance of pursuing commonsense policies that protect public health and our natural resources, while providing flexibility for businesses and farmers as they comply with our environmental laws. I look forward to supporting her and hope the Senate will promptly move to a vote on her nomination.”
Gina McCarthy has been the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA since 2009. She began her career at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, with a BA in social anthropology in 1976 followed by a Master’s degree in environmental health engineering, planning and policy from Tufts in 1981. Her work on environmental issues at the state and local levels in Massachusetts spanned five Republican governors before she moved to Connecticut to become commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection from 2004-2009.