1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

As someone concerned about climate and air pollution, I’m asking you to pursue tough questions during the nomination hearing of Lee Zeldin to head the EPA. I realize this nomination will not be considered until the new Congress returns on January 3, but it is too important not to start talking about now. We all depend on the EPA to protect our air and water from pollution. I worry that Lee Zeldin would be a gift to the extremely powerful chemical and fossil fuel industries. His nomination comes at a crucial time, as the plastics and petrochemical industries are preparing an onslaught to shortcut the process of getting chemicals onto the market—and we already are awash in toxic, cancer-causing, and hormone-disrupting chemicals. Lee Zeldin’s record of voting against critical environmental protections—and his stated goal of launching a deregulatory spree—makes clear he would be quick to support corporate polluters. This nomination is not a matter of Republicans versus Democrats. It is a matter of caring about human health and safety, protecting all that we love and hold dear. The nomination of Zeldin is profoundly alarming.