Washington (December 7, 2016) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and chair of the Senate Climate Clearinghouse, released the following statement today news that President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“As its leader, Scott Pruitt would have EPA stand for Every Polluters Ally. Denying the science of climate change and carrying water for Big Oil and the fossil fuel industry make him unsuitable to lead the EPA. The EPA is our cop on the beat, protecting the American people and our environment from harmful pollution, hazardous waste and the impacts of climate change. As Attorney General of Oklahoma, Scott Pruitt has tried to undermine the Clean Water & Clean Air Acts, putting the public health of millions of Americans at risk. He has dedicated years of his career to rolling back the bedrock laws and rules that protect our water and our air. We don’t need federal agency leaders who would drag us back to 19th century dirty energy sources and try to stop our 21st century clean energy revolution.

“I will vigorously oppose Scott Pruitt’s nomination and urge President-elect Trump to stop nominating science-denying, oil-soaked, climate change-causing polluter allies to his cabinet. The American people want clean air and water and to protect the health of their kids. Those are the time-honored American values that President–elect Trump’s cabinet should reflect.”