Key Vote YES on the Nomination of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

On behalf of FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to contact your senators and urge them to vote YES on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wheeler has done a phenomenal job balancing protecting the environment and abiding by his constitutional obligations, all while preserving free market principles He will no doubt add to that legacy as full-time Administrator.

In 2018, the EPA finalized 13 deregulatory actions as part of President Trump’s initiative to “drain the swamp.” These actions saved the taxpayers billions of dollars. Under Acting Administrator Wheeler’s leadership, the EPA has announced another 49 deregulatory actions that would only add to those savings. This will provide certainty for businesses and investors, and be a boost for the U.S. economy.

The EPA, under Acting Administrator Wheeler’s leadership, is working to repeal the harmful Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. This rule allows the federal government to regulate bodies of water as small as a creek running through a backyard as a federal waterway. Rolling this back is crucial to restoring peace of mind to landowners across the country. It will also save well in excess of $100 million for taxpayers. We need a proven leader like Wheeler to spearhead the effort.

Another set of harmful Obama-era rules that Acting Administrator Wheeler is addressing are the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. By modifying the CAFE standards and employing a realistic, free-market approach, Acting Administrator Wheeler will save consumers from $120 billion to $340 billion in total. Additionally, the vehicles in compliance with these new standards will be cheaper, safer, and more accessible to the public, which benefits the environment immensely.

For years, particularly under the Obama administration, we saw an EPA that attempted to impose its will beyond the scope of the law on private companies to the detriment of the U.S. economy and to our taxpayers. Acting Administrator Wheeler recognizes that Washington bureaucrats do not know what’s best for America’s businesses, and does not try to run their companies. Instead, he gives the private sector the flexibility it needs to efficiently lower emissions and find the most cost-effective way to help the environment. He also understands that property rights are fundamental to our liberty and that government agencies have no business regulating our backyards.

FreedomWorks will count the vote for this nomination on our 2019 Congressional Scorecard. The scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the FreedomFighter Award, which recognizes Members of the House and Senate who consistently vote to support economic freedom and individual liberty.

Sincerely,

Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks