Volume 167, No. 192 covering the 1st Session of the 117th Congress (2021 - 2022) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Nomination of Jeffrey M. Prieto (Executive Calendar)” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the in the Senate section section on page S7583 on Nov. 2.
More than half of the Agency's employees are engineers, scientists and protection specialists. The Climate Reality Project, a global climate activist organization, accused Agency leadership in the last five years of undermining its main mission.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Nomination of Jeffrey M. Prieto
Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I rise today in support of the confirmation of Jeffrey Prieto to serve as general counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Prieto was reported favorably from our committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, on a bipartisan vote of 12 to 8.
Yesterday, I received an interesting letter from a bipartisan group of four former EPA general counsels representing the Trump administration, the Obama administration, and the administrations of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. They were basically conveying the same message: They support the confirmation of Jeffrey Prieto to serve as general counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency. That doesn't happen every day. We get letters of support from nominees, different parties, different Agencies from time to time, but to have four former EPA general counsels from two Republican administrations of late and two Democratic administrations all in support of the nomination of Jeffrey Prieto to serve in this important role--that got my attention, and I hope it gets the attention of all of my colleagues.
Those who wrote to us, the four who wrote to us, very correctly point out that Mr. Prieto is, and I quote--these are their words, not mine--
``uniquely qualified for the position of General Counsel for the EPA.
They go on to say:
Mr. Prieto has been a longstanding champion of human health and Environmental protection for all Americans.
The letter continues:
He is fair, just, and ethical. He will make decisions strictly based on the facts, science, and the law. We expect he will [be] ready to serve on day one.
Not surprisingly, I completely agree with their sentiments. Having come to know Mr. Prieto following his nomination by President Biden, I believe he will be an outstanding EPA general counsel. He comes from a patriotic Latino family with a proud history of military service. He has the intellect, temperament, and experience to serve in this important role.
Six years ago, this body saw fit to confirm Jeffrey Prieto unanimously for the same position, general counsel, at the Department of Agriculture. We should confirm him again today for this post. He was the right choice then; he is the right choice now. I encourage our colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination.
With that, I yield the floor.
Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote occur immediately.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
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