Sen. Tom Carper released a statement Feb. 3 regarding reports that the Trump administration is withdrawing Kathleen Hartnett White’s nomination to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
The White House resubmitted her nomination to Congress on Jan. 8 after it was initially returned to President Trump when the Senate closed the first session of the 115th Congress in 2017.
“My colleagues in Congress know well that I am one of the first to reach across the aisle to find reasonable, principled compromises, but in this case, it was abundantly clear very early on that heading up the Council on Environmental Quality wasn’t the right job for Ms. White. I often say that when you think you’re right, when you know you’re right, you should never give up. When it comes to insulating our towns and cities from climate change, or protecting our children from toxic pollutants and chemicals, there should be no compromise,” said Carper.
“The nominee to lead the critical work of the White House Council on Environmental Quality must be a true leader — someone who can build alliances, work with Congress and be seen as an honest broker. To begin tackling climate change, the greatest environmental challenge of our generation, we need a Council on Environmental Quality leader who has a deep respect for science, for the environmental laws and regulations already on the books and for those who hold different views than their own. We should look to examples like Russell Peterson, Council on Environmental Quality chairman under Presidents Nixon and Ford, former governor of Delaware and one of my earliest mentors. Withdrawing Kathleen Hartnett White’s nomination is the right thing to do, and I believe it is past time for this administration to nominate a thoughtful environmental and public health champion to lead this critical office in the federal government,” said Carper.