Peace Garden News

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened a hearing in Washington, D.C., to evaluate the nominations of David Fotouhi and Aaron Szabo for key positions within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fotouhi is nominated for Deputy Administrator, having previously served as Acting General Counsel during the Trump administration. Szabo is nominated for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation and has experience with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Council on Environmental Quality.

During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota addressed questions to both nominees concerning America's role in emissions reduction compared to other countries. Cramer highlighted that despite economic growth, including in manufacturing and energy sectors, U.S. emissions have decreased significantly over recent decades. In his opening statement, Szabo remarked on this progress: "Since the enactment of Clean Air Act in 1970, the United States has made remarkable progress in reducing air pollution."

Senator Cramer further questioned how companies would choose to invest in America given what he described as a noncompetitive regulatory environment. He emphasized that while U.S. emissions have decreased, other nations such as China have seen significant increases. "What we are seeing now actually is that international emissions... from China impacts states like California," said Cramer.

He noted a stark contrast between American and Chinese greenhouse gas emissions: "American greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by something like a million tons per year while China’s have increased by something like six to seven million tons per year." Cramer concluded that addressing this issue requires both domestic and global efforts.