WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today expressed his disapproval with Senate Democrats’ action to boycott President Trump’s nomination of Scott Pruitt for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator.

“Scott Pruitt is more than qualified to lead EPA, and we need a steady hand at the helm of an agency that can have so much influence in Americans’ lives,” Wicker said. “Objective observers who watched his testimony would have to agree that it was an impressive display of knowledge and patience. Attorney General Pruitt demonstrated that he is intelligent, articulate, and thoughtful. I am proud of this nominee. His record shows that he will work to bring back jobs and restore needed balance to the agency. Senate Democrats are needlessly blocking a capable and promising nominee. I think that the American people are ready to put this close election behind us, accept the results, and move forward to govern this nation.”

Throughout the confirmation process, Pruitt has answered over 1,200 questions – more than any EPA administrator of an incoming administration. His confirmation hearing was the most thorough confirmation hearing on record. Nominees for EPA Administrator during the incoming Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations received a confirmation hearing prior to Inauguration Day and were confirmed by the full Senate before the end of January.

Pruitt, the current Oklahoma attorney general, has extensive knowledge of the federal regulatory system and the rule of law. He was a leader in the fight to dismantle President Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. Rule.

The Senate EPW Committee has legislative jurisdiction over EPA, including nominations subject to Senate confirmation.