Coalition Letter to Senate on Confirmation of EPA Deputy and Assistant Administrator Nominees

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer:

We are writing on behalf of millions of businesses, large and small, to ask you to schedule votes to confirm the pending nominees for senior leadership positions at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our organizations represent many major sectors of the American economy—including aerospace, agriculture, apparel, automotive, building and construction materials, chemical and raw material production, consumer and industrial goods, distribution, electronics, energy, equipment manufacturers, food and grocery, footwear, healthcare products and medical technology, information technology, mining and metals, paper and wood products, plastics, retail, storage, tire manufacturers, and travel goods.

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. However, more than nine months into the new Administration, the EPA lacks Senate-confirmed Deputy and Assistant Administrators to carry out this mission. The EPA’s activities have a significant impact on each of our industries, the products we make or the services we provide, and the tens of millions of workers we represent. It is therefore of significant importance to our groups that EPA is appropriately and fully staffed. This holds especially true for individuals in key leadership positions.

To ensure that EPA’s vast workload can be efficiently and effectively achieved and implemented, we urge you to move expeditiously towards confirmation for the following nominees:

• Susan Bodine, for EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
• Michael Dourson, for EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
• Matthew Leopold, for EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of General Counsel
• David Ross, for EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Water
• William Wehrum, for EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation
• Andrew Wheeler, for EPA Deputy Administrator

We appreciate your assistance in this important and timely matter.

Sincerely,
American Chemistry Council
American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute
American Composites Manufacturers Association
American Fiber Manufacturers Association
American Forest & Paper Association
American Foundry Society
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Iron & Steel Institute
American Supply Association
American Wood Council
Arizona Manufacturers Council
Associated Industries of Missouri
Brick Industry Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
CropLife America
Flexible Packaging Association
Georgia Association of Manufacturers
Glass Packaging Institute
Global Cold Chain Alliance
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
Industrial Fasteners Institute
Institute of Makers of Explosives
International Fragrance Association North America
International Housewares association
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries
Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
MPIF
MSCI
National Association of Chemical Distributors
National Association of Manufacturers
National Lime Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Mining Association
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Precast Concrete Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nevada Manufacturers Assn
New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC)
Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Asso.
Ohio Manufacturers' Association
Oregon Women In Timber
Plastics Pipe Institute
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Portland Cement Association
Rhode Island Manufacturers Association
Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA)
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
The Aluminum Association
The Fertilizer Institute
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
Vinyl Institute