Former Long Island Congressmember Lee Zeldin, who once sat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, won Senate confirmation Wednesday in a final vote of 56-42 to head the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump Administration.
“Through the EPA we have the ability to pursue energy dominance, to be able to make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world, to bring back American jobs to the auto industry, and so much more,” Zeldin said on Fox News following the vote. “President Trump cares about conserving the environment. His desire to ensure access to clean air and clean water was a top priority.”
Farming and other groups, including the American Trucking Association (ATA), swiftly lined up to congratulate Zeldin and praise his performance at the confirmation hearing.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the largest American association of cattle producers, was among the first in line.
“For too long, the EPA has stood for ‘Ending Production Agriculture.’ Under Administrator Zeldin, we look forward to an EPA that acknowledges the conservation efforts that are only made possible by cattle farmers and ranchers—America’s original conservationists,” NCBA vice president of government affairs Ethan Lane said.
The cattle producers were followed by the National Corn Growers Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, among others.
“As noted during his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Zeldin understands that ethanol and other renewable fuels will play an important role in accomplishing the President’s energy and environmental objectives,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper said.
“We are confident he will support timely and transparent implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, take steps to facilitate expansion of lower-cost fuel blends like E15, and revisit extreme regulations that force automakers to produce costly electric vehicles that are heavily dependent on foreign raw materials.”
ATA president and CEO Chris Spear likewise expressed hope for change in the agency.
“Our industry and EPA worked together for decades to promote major advances in engines and emissions control systems that are 99 percent cleaner,” Spear noted. He added that the ATA looks forward to working with Zeldin to create national emission standards “that are technologically achievable, encourage innovation, and account for the operational realities of our essential industry.”
