WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a morning announcement from the Roosevelt Room in the White House, President George W. Bush today nominated Stephen Johnson for the position of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. When confirmed by the Senate, Johnson will replace former Administrator Mike Leavitt whom Bush elevated to the Secretary position for the Department of Health and Human Services.
|
|
“I am pleased to announce my nomination of Stephen Johnson to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,” the president said in his morning speech, noting Johnson’s 24-year tenure with the Agency, spanning all four decades of its existence. “He knows the EPA from the ground up, and has a passion for its mission – to protect the health of our citizens, and to guarantee the quality of our air, water and land for generations to come. I've come to know Steve as an innovative problem solver with good judgment and complete integrity. I'm proud to ask him to become the first career EPA employee to hold the office of Administrator, and I'm glad he's agreed to do so.”
Johnson currently holds the position of Acting EPA Administrator, which he assumed in August 2004. He holds a B.A. in biology from Taylor University in Indiana, as well as a master’s degree in pathology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. His previous positions with the EPA include deputy administrator of the EPA; assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances; and deputy director of the Office of Pesticide Programs.
The President noted Johnson’s expertise in pesticides, which led to new food safety regulations in recent years and will likely be at the forefront of the Bush Administration’s efforts to more closely monitor the nation’s supply of drinking water.
|
|
Allen James, president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) welcomed Johnson’s appointment and noted in letters to association membership that the group looks forward to working with Johnson on issues including pesticide rule-making. “Steve is well known to our industry,” James noted. “Over the years, we at RISE have found Steve Johnson to be a fair regulator who takes into consideration comments from all organizations, NGOs as well as industry, when making a decision. His knowledge and experience of EPA’s pesticide program will be beneficial during this presidential term. We wholeheartedly support the President’s decision and encourage Congress to approve this nomination.”
Still, Johnson may have some hurdles to jump during the confirmation phase of his appointment. As Lawn & Landscape reported in 2003, former Administrator Leavitt’s nomination was met with a temporary congressional hold on the part of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada). Reid agreed to let confirmation sessions continue when the President nominated a member of Reid’s staff to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
|
|
“I ask the Senate to confirm this nomination promptly,” President Bush said in his morning statement. “I look forward to welcoming Steve Johnson to my Cabinet as America's 11th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
Johnson thanked the President for his nomination and shared thoughts on the Agency’s past under former administrators, as well as its future. “If confirmed, it will be my distinct privilege to serve you and our nation to continue to advance your environmental agenda while maintaining our nation’s economic competitiveness,” Johnson said, addressing the President. “I would like to acknowledge the tremendous service of Secretary Leavitt, first as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and continuing now as the Secretary of Heath and Human Services. He cam in as the Administrator and now remains a dear friend and respected colleague.”
Johnson also thanked his family and former colleague Christine Todd Whitman, who held the Administrator position prior to Leavitt, for their support. “In over 20 years of public service, I have the utmost support and respect for my colleagues at the Environmental Protection Agency and throughout the government,” he said. “I would like to thank and recognize those whose love and support have brought me to this day: My family.”