Heinrich Opposes Confirmation Of Andrew Wheeler For EPA Administrator

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 28, 2019) -Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Andrew Wheeler as the new EPA Administrator:

“Americans need a leader at the EPA who will take action on climate change and work to protect our land, air and water. Unfortunately, I lack confidence that Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist turned Acting EPA Administrator, is up for the task. During his time at the EPA, Wheeler has opposed climate actions, from rolling back important climate regulations to opposing the ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down global use of hydroflourocarbons, which have a global warming potential that far exceeds carbon dioxide.

“Even beyond climate action, Acting Administrator Wheeler has followed in the footsteps of his disgraced predecessor Scott Pruitt in failing to perform the basic duties of his job. He’s failed to act with urgency to protect New Mexicans from dangerous PFAS chemicals that have contaminated nearby groundwater at Cannon Air Force Base and Holloman Air Force Base. New Mexicans deserve better and can be certain that I will hold him accountable for any decisions that will hurt the health of New Mexico families.”