Climate Change and the Environment

Reps. Don Beyer and Ted Lieu today wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General to request an investigation into whether Scott Pruitt violated the Federal Records Act. The letter cited recent reports that Pruitt intentionally hid or falsified records of meetings and discussions with representatives of industries regulated by the EPA. The lawmakers wrote: “We write… Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer issued the following statement today on the departure of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: “Finally. Scott Pruitt was able to keep his position for so long -- despite astonishing megalomania and unethical behavior – only because of Donald Trump’s historic embrace of corruption. Pruitt acknowledged behavior in Congressional hearings and televised interviews that violated… Read more »

NBC News Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., also issued a one-word statement on Pruitt's departure. "Finally," he said. Click here to read the full article Read more »

Washington Post On Thursday two Democratic House members, Don Beyer (Va.) and Ted Lieu (Calif.) asked the EPA’s Office of Inspector General to review whether Pruitt violated the Federal Records Act in altering his calendar. “We ask that you protect that public trust, and establish whether Administrator Scott Pruitt violated the Federal Records Act, and if so, determine what he… Read more »

Roll Call Democratic Reps. Don Beyer and Ted Lieu have requested an inspector general’s report on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt after claims Pruitt intentionally scrubbed from his official calendar controversial meetings with leaders of industries his agency is supposed to regulate. A former aide to Pruitt first told CNN of… Read more »

Huff Post In a letter released Thursday morning, Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) asked the EPA Inspector General to open an investigation to determine whether the calendars, revealed this week in a CNN report, violated the Federal Records Act. “Willful concealment or destruction of such records is a federal crime carrying penalties ranging from fines to… Read more »

In the wake of fresh evidence that the oil and gas industry’s methane emissions are far greater than previously thought, Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and four House Democratic colleagues today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt urging him to reinstate a formal Information Collection Request (ICR) to the industry that he canceled… Read more »

Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) today led 71 Democrats in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing grave concerns over his May 9th memorandum regarding future National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) reviews and standard setting. The memo asks the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) to consider “adverse… Read more »

POLITICO Scott Pruitt drew fire Wednesday from conservative pundit Laura Ingraham, who urged President Donald Trump to dump the scandal-scarred EPA administrator — the latest sign that his support among Republicans is crumbling. Ingraham, the popular radio and Fox News host, is the highest-profile conservative so far to call for Trump to fire Pruitt, who is widely disliked inside the… Read more »

Democratic Members of the Subcommittee on Oversight sent a letter last week to Oversight Chairman Ralph Abraham requesting that he hold a hearing on a White House memo that suggested ignoring climate science was one option the Trump Administration should consider. “Ignoring science and pushing political agendas that may be welcomed by industry, but harmful to the health, safety and… Read more »