Former LI congressman Lee Zeldin said he will not favor industry over the environment and declared that "climate change is real" at a Senate hearing Thursday on his nomination. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports. Credit: Newsday

WASHINGTON — Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin said he will not favor industry over the environment and declared that "climate change is real" at a Senate hearing Thursday on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zeldin, 44, of Shirley, faced Republicans requesting him to cede more authority on the environment to states and Democrats urging him to boost efforts to address climate change, drought and rising sea levels in his appearance before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The key question for Zeldin, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), is "Will he follow the science and the economics and protect our air, water and climate, or will he merely be a rubber stamp for looters and polluters who are setting the Trump agenda?"

Zeldin sought to reassure the senators that he would impartially carry out the EPA’s mission.

“We must do everything in our power to harness the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship,” he said in his opening statement. “We must ensure we are protecting the environment while also protecting our economy.”

Zeldin cited his record as a Long Island congressman, noting that he worked across party lines to preserve Long Island Sound and Plum Island, backed The Great American Outdoors Act and Save Our Seas Act to clean up ocean plastics, and sought to combat PFAS in drinking water.

In response to a key question for Democrats, Zeldin broke with President-elect Donald Trump's claims that climate change is "a hoax" and said, "I believe that climate change is real."

Zeldin's nomination faces opposition from most environmental groups, given the League of Conservation Voters' 14% rating on his votes in Congress on environmental issues, including a vote Zeldin cast to slash $2 billion from the EPA during the first Trump administration.

Whitehouse said Zeldin's financial disclosure statement’s revelation that he wrote "anti-climate op-eds paid for by dark money organizations do not give me confidence that he will be an honest broker if confirmed to lead the EPA."

Democrats pressed Zeldin about the influence of the oil and gas industry — and its $270,000 in donations to his campaigns — and others who seek to ease regulation.

Zeldin responded, "There is no donation that anyone has ever provided me at any point of any amount that is going to influence any decision that I make in this position."

Zeldin sidestepped some questions.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asked if he still believed what he said in a 2016 campaign debate — "There are many different ways that we can be better stewards of our environment. The key is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to become more environmentally friendly and pursue green and clean energy."

Zeldin responded, "In consideration of all factors in an ideal world, we would be able to pursue always the cleanest, greenest energy sources possible."

Zeldin sought to reassure Democrats that he would enforce compliance with EPA regulations and that he would not play favorites among states based on whether they are red or blue. He also said he had not heard anything about moving the EPA out of Washington.

Zeldin offered the help of the EPA when Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked if he would provide Californians caught in deadly and sweeping wildfires the same strong recovery and response assistance the EPA provided to Long Island after Superstorm Sandy.

Zeldin also agreed to work with several of the Republican senators on local environmental issues, such as concerns that Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) raised about methane gas that he said comes not from fossil fuel sources but from the ground and through the air.

If confirmed, Zeldin will be part of a pro-business environmental team Trump is assembling that includes EPA deputy director nominee David Fotouhi, who served as an EPA general counsel in Trump’s first term, and Ed Russo, a former Trump Organization environmental consultant, tapped to lead an advisory task force on environmental issues.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the panel's chairwoman, announced that the committee will meet again Tuesday to discuss and act on Zeldin’s nomination. The committee, with 10 Republicans and nine Democrats, is expected to vote to recommend him to the full Senate.

WASHINGTON — Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin said he will not favor industry over the environment and declared that "climate change is real" at a Senate hearing Thursday on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zeldin, 44, of Shirley, faced Republicans requesting him to cede more authority on the environment to states and Democrats urging him to boost efforts to address climate change, drought and rising sea levels in his appearance before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The key question for Zeldin, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), is "Will he follow the science and the economics and protect our air, water and climate, or will he merely be a rubber stamp for looters and polluters who are setting the Trump agenda?"

Zeldin sought to reassure the senators that he would impartially carry out the EPA’s mission.

WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND

  • Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin said he will not favor industry over the environment and declared that "climate change is real" at a Senate hearing on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Zeldin faced questions from Democrats urging him to boost efforts to address climate change, drought and rising sea levels in his appearance before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
  • Zeldin cited his record, noting that he worked across party lines to preserve Long Island Sound and Plum Island, backed legislation to clean up ocean plastics, and sought to combat PFAS in drinking water.

“We must do everything in our power to harness the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship,” he said in his opening statement. “We must ensure we are protecting the environment while also protecting our economy.”

Zeldin cited his record as a Long Island congressman, noting that he worked across party lines to preserve Long Island Sound and Plum Island, backed The Great American Outdoors Act and Save Our Seas Act to clean up ocean plastics, and sought to combat PFAS in drinking water.

In response to a key question for Democrats, Zeldin broke with President-elect Donald Trump's claims that climate change is "a hoax" and said, "I believe that climate change is real."

Opposition from environmentalists

Zeldin's nomination faces opposition from most environmental groups, given the League of Conservation Voters' 14% rating on his votes in Congress on environmental issues, including a vote Zeldin cast to slash $2 billion from the EPA during the first Trump administration.

Whitehouse said Zeldin's financial disclosure statement’s revelation that he wrote "anti-climate op-eds paid for by dark money organizations do not give me confidence that he will be an honest broker if confirmed to lead the EPA."

Democrats pressed Zeldin about the influence of the oil and gas industry — and its $270,000 in donations to his campaigns — and others who seek to ease regulation.

Zeldin responded, "There is no donation that anyone has ever provided me at any point of any amount that is going to influence any decision that I make in this position."

Zeldin sidestepped some questions.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asked if he still believed what he said in a 2016 campaign debate — "There are many different ways that we can be better stewards of our environment. The key is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to become more environmentally friendly and pursue green and clean energy."

Zeldin responded, "In consideration of all factors in an ideal world, we would be able to pursue always the cleanest, greenest energy sources possible."

Zeldin sought to reassure Democrats that he would enforce compliance with EPA regulations and that he would not play favorites among states based on whether they are red or blue. He also said he had not heard anything about moving the EPA out of Washington.

Help for California

Zeldin offered the help of the EPA when Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked if he would provide Californians caught in deadly and sweeping wildfires the same strong recovery and response assistance the EPA provided to Long Island after Superstorm Sandy.

Zeldin also agreed to work with several of the Republican senators on local environmental issues, such as concerns that Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) raised about methane gas that he said comes not from fossil fuel sources but from the ground and through the air.

If confirmed, Zeldin will be part of a pro-business environmental team Trump is assembling that includes EPA deputy director nominee David Fotouhi, who served as an EPA general counsel in Trump’s first term, and Ed Russo, a former Trump Organization environmental consultant, tapped to lead an advisory task force on environmental issues.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the panel's chairwoman, announced that the committee will meet again Tuesday to discuss and act on Zeldin’s nomination. The committee, with 10 Republicans and nine Democrats, is expected to vote to recommend him to the full Senate.

Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon’s Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off."  Credit: Mario Gonzalez

 SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Wrestling, North Babylon hoops and more! Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon's Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off." 

Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon’s Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off."  Credit: Mario Gonzalez

 SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Wrestling, North Babylon hoops and more! Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon's Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off." 

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