Scott Pruitt is the Wrong Choice for EPA

Virginia Leaders Must Continue Legacy of Environmental Protection

Environment Virginia

Richmond, VA – On Wednesday, President elect-Trump nominated Scott Pruitt, Attorney General of Oklahoma, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. In response, members of the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN), a coalition of environmental and conservation advocates issued the following statements:

Sarah Bucci, State Director of Environment Virginia:

“We need an Environmental Protection Agency Administrator who protects our environmental laws, is guided by science when crafting and implementing policy, puts public health ahead of dirty energy special interests, and has the qualifications necessary to safeguard the American public from climate change. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt meets none of those criteria.”

Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters:

“With a Pruitt-led EPA, it’s more important now than ever for strong environmental leadership here in Virginia. It is incumbent upon our state leaders to stand up to what promises to be an unprecedented attack on core environmental protections. Governor McAuliffe, Lt. Governor Northam, Attorney General Herring and U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine must continue to stand firm to protect Virginians’ public health and safety in the absence of leadership from the federal agency tasked with doing just that.”

Catherine Goggins, Interfaith Power & Light:

“As people of faith who feel morally called to care for Creation, we cannot and will not be silent about a climate denier leading the EPA. We ask Senators Warner and Kaine to strongly oppose Pruitt’s nomination and to ensure that the U.S. continues to make progress on climate action for the benefit of all our neighbors, close to home and around the world.”

Over the last 50 years, Virginia Conservation Network and its Network Partners have been committed to ensuring that Virginians across the Commonwealth have access to our most precious resources. With a career dedicated to dismantling common sense environmental practices, Scott Pruitt does not adequately represent Virginia’s values. It is critical now more than ever that we push our state leaders to protect Virginia’s families, communities, and natural resources.

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