WASHINGTON — February 17, 2017 — Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Scott Pruitt as the 14th administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a 52 to 46 vote. The National League of Cities (NLC) congratulates Administrator Pruitt on his confirmation and looks forward to continuing its partnership with EPA in efforts to protect public health and the environment. The following quote may be attributed to NLC executive director and CEO, Clarence Anthony:
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Trump Administration and welcome Administrator Pruitt. The nation’s local elected officials recognize that climate change and improving our water infrastructure are leading challenges for our cities and we are eager to continue working with EPA to address both concerns in a consistent manner across all regions of the country.
“Local governments own the majority of the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure and need the financial resources to maintain and improve it to meet the needs of the 21st century. We call on Administrator Pruitt to be a strong champion of programs like the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds and WIFIA, which help cities make needed investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure; and integrated planning, which allows local governments to address their most pressing water infrastructure needs first. We also urge Administrator Pruitt to reduce unfunded mandates and maintain policies that incentivize the use of green infrastructure, which is often more cost-effective and beneficial to our communities.
“Cities are also on the front lines of responding to the devastating effects of climate change and cannot afford climate inaction at any level of government. Cities have already taken the lead in the fight against climate change, but strong federal partners who understand the risks of climate change inaction will further enable local leaders to protect and prepare their communities.
“Cities — both small and large — support provisions for clean water, clean air and clean land, as well as water infrastructure improvements that rebuild aging infrastructure and assure its resilience in the face of changing demands and extreme weather events. We call for solutions to local challenges that do not place the financial burden squarely on local governments, and welcome measures that match infrastructure funding with mandated actions. We are eager to continue being a partner and resource to EPA.”
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org