(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the statement below following the Senate’s vote to confirm President Trump’s nominee Mr. Dan Brouillette as Secretary of the Department of Energy.
“From the on-going efforts to clean up hazardous nuclear waste at Hanford to supporting continued innovations and scientific progress at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Department of Energy has an immense presence and plays an important role in Washington state’s environmental, scientific, and economic future. So I am encouraged that, unlike his predecessor, President Trump’s Energy Secretary pick Dan Brouillette has relevant experience in the industry he is being tasked to regulate, and after meeting with him, I was pleased to hear Mr. Brouillette speak to the vital importance of the Department of Energy in Washington state, his opposition to efforts to privatize the Bonneville Power Administration, and the agency’s role in helping tackle some of our nation’s most complex and urgent challenges—at Hanford, PNNL, and beyond.
“To that end, I supported Mr. Brouillette’s nomination to lead the Department, and I look forward to working with Mr. Brouillette to ensure the federal government continues to honor its moral and legal obligation to the Tri-Cities community. More importantly, as a voice for Washington state in the Senate and a vocal critic of President Trump’s repeated efforts to gut federal funding for Hanford clean-up and other Department priorities, I will continue holding the Trump administration’s feet to the fire to ensure Central Washington has the federal support and investments necessary to maintain public health and safety as it strengthens its reputation as a national leader in scientific discovery.”
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