WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Friday voted against the confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Murphy, along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), is the author of the Super Pollutants Act of 2015 – the Senate’s only bipartisan bill to combat climate change in the 114th Congress. The bill would reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in the atmosphere by enabling federal agencies to work with the business and non-profit communities to speed the adoption of SLCP-reducing technologies and policies, while supporting American-led innovations.

“I voted against Scott Pruitt today because I’ve seen nothing that indicates he’ll lift a finger to fight climate change, or protect our clean air and water,” said Murphy. “I can’t imagine anything more reckless than putting someone in charge of the EPA who believes that climate change is a hoax. President Trump’s choice of Mr. Pruitt fits neatly into a pattern of behavior by this administration of putting very rich people and people with close ties to special interests in charge of our government. I’m deeply concerned that by nominating people like Mr. Pruitt, Andy Puzder, and Rex Tillerson, President Trump is filling his cabinet with people who will use their position to continue fighting for the powerful industries they spent their lives representing at the expense of people I represent Connecticut.”

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