Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org or 202-670-5585
Washington, DC -- Testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday, Scott Pruitt was confronted over his past comments calling Donald Trump “dangerous” and saying that Trump would take “unapologetic steps to use executive power to confront Congress in a way that is truly unconstitutional.” At that same hearing, Pruitt suggested he may attempt to to undermine EPA's Endangerment Finding, disregarding the Supreme Court’s ruling that makes clear that carbon pollution is covered by the Clean Air Act and requires action from the EPA.
In response, Sierra Club Chief Climate Counsel Joanne Spalding released the following statement:
“Scott Pruitt was right when he said Donald Trump is a dangerous threat to the country -- and Pruitt knows about being dangerous, because he’s spent his time at the EPA taking aim at life-saving public health standards over and over again. We saw that again when he left the door open for an attack on the finding that carbon pollution endangers the health of our families. Congress, the Supreme Court, and the EPA’s own experts already settled this issue long ago: EPA may not shirk its legal duty to protect the public from dangerous emissions that harm our health. If Pruitt tries to do so, he’ll add another humiliating loss in court to his disgraceful resume.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.