Opinion

Support president’s nominee for EPA

Posted June 24, 2013 5:00 am

Illinoisans deserve to have a proven public health champion working for them as the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and President Obama’s nominee, Gina McCarthy, is exactly that. McCarthy has a stellar record of winning real results for our environment and public health — under both Republican and Democratic administrations — and she’s won praise from everyone from industry groups to the American Lung Association.

But the U.S. Senate still has yet to confirm her, due largely to opposition from some far-right Senate Republicans. Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has yet to say how he will vote on McCarthy’s nomination. The longer Sen. Kirk stays silent, and the longer McCarthy’s nomination stalls, the longer Illinoisans will have to wait for McCarthy to get to work fighting for clean air and clean water.

I urge Sen. Kirk to end his silence on this important issue and pledge his support for Gina McCarthy to head the EPA. Illinoisans’ health and our environment shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

Frank Iannuzzi

Campaign coordinator

Environment Illinois

Chicago

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