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Climate Change and the Environment

Report: EPA's Scott Pruitt went on $100K Morocco trip partially arranged by lobbyist

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USA TODAY Embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is facing new criticism after it was revealed his controversial trip to Morocco was partially arranged by a lobbyist and cost $100,000 — more than double what was previously reported.  The report in The Washington Postdetails more about the December trip, including that Richard Smotkin, a former Comcast…

Two top Pruitt aides leave EPA abruptly as ethics investigations heat up

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ABC News As investigations into alleged ethical misconduct at the Environmental Protection Agency heat up, two high-ranking aides to administrator Scott Pruitt have abruptly left their jobs this week.   Democrats have raised questions about spending and security decisions made by the head of Pruitt's security team, Nino Perrotta, as well as about the…

The Energy 202: Trump administration drafts plan to challenge California on auto emissions standards

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Washington Post — But the probes continue at the EPA’s internal watchdog... The EPA's inspector general confirmed last week it will investigate Pruitt’s controversial condo deal, The Post’s Brady Dennis reported. It’s the 10th federal investigation into the administrator. In a letter to Democratic Reps. Don Beyer (Va.) and Ted Lieu (Calif.), who…

Reps Lieu And Beyer Confirm Inspector General Review Of Administrator Pruitt's Conduct

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Today, Congressmen Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Don Beyer (D-VA) released the Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General’s letter confirming that the IG is reviewing Administrator Scott Pruitt’s conduct in office. The letter was a response to calls by Mr. Lieu and Mr. Beyer for an IG investigation into Administrator Pruitt’s below-market condo lease,…

Pruitt Admits To Congress That He Lied To President Trump

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Scott Pruitt’s hearings today featured what was essentially an admission that he lied on FoxNews and, reportedly, to President Trump about his knowledge of raises given to key aides.  It was one of the minority of questions he actually answered, amid a series of evasions, equivocations, pivots, filibusters, and falsehoods. His most common response was “I’m not aware.” Here are a few…

Dingell, Beyer Lead 87 Members of Congress in Calling on EPA Administrator Pruitt to Reinstate Longstanding Toxic Air Pollution Protections

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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) today led 87 Representatives in urging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to reinstate longstanding policy that requires factories and industrial operations to limit toxic air pollutants. In January, EPA announced the roll back of the “once in, always in” policy—critical guidance in place…

Dem Leaders Request Investigation of Pruitt Ally, Banned Banker Albert Kelly

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Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) today sent a letter to the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking an investigation of EPA Senior Adviser to the Administrator Albert Kelly. Kelly was appointed to oversee the Superfund program without qualifications in environmental protection; he had previously provided EPA Administrator Scott…

Beyer Statement On Scott Pruitt’s Implementation Of Deeply Flawed Science Standards At EPA

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Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s announcement that the EPA would implement so-called “secret science” standards for agency rulemaking: “The idea that Scott Pruitt, the least transparent and least science-friendly Administrator in the history of the EPA, is suddenly concerned about the transparency of…

Top Senate, House Democrats Send New Documents to Chairman Gowdy Regarding Pruitt’s Office Security Sweep

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Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Representatives Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) sent a letter to Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) transmitting new documents…

Safe Climate Caucus Statement Honoring Earth Day

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Congressional Safe Climate Caucus co-chairs Reps. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Don Beyer (VA-08) issued the following statement to honor the 48th anniversary of Earth Day: “This Earth Day finds the United States’ commitment to environmental leadership under attack by the Trump Administration, and our efforts to provide clean air and water to our citizens and a livable planet to future…