Environmental Groups Send Letter to the Hill on Holdren & Lubchenco

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We reported yesterday on the abrupt resolution of the Senate holds that had snagged John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco, President Obama’s nominees to lead the White House science office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, respectively.

Now that the nominees have been affirmatively sent to the Senate floor, their path to confirmation looks clear — although the names and party affiliations of the senators holding them up remains murky. We’re going to keep sniffing around to try to unmask the anonymous objectors.

But in the meantime, after the jump you can check out a letter on the nominations that was sent to the Senate today by 20 leading environmental groups (h/t Politico).

Dear Senator:

On behalf of our millions of members, we urge you to act quickly to confirm two superb nominees to critical positions: Dr. Jane Lubchenco as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Dr. John Holdren to head the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Our environment is facing some of the greatest challenges we have ever seen. President Obama understands the need to respond with strong leadership and sound science. In his Inaugural address the President promised that science would play a major role in his decision-making. His nominations of Drs. Lubchenco and Holdren reflect that commitment.

Both nominees understand the challenges we face, and their rigorous scientific expertise will help guide US policy during this critical time. As NOAA Administrator, Dr. Lubchenco will be the nation’s top policy-maker on the use and conservation of our ocean and Great Lakes. She will be leading efforts to preserve vital ocean and Great Lakes ecosystems and habitats that are threatened by acidification, Arctic ice-melt, overfishing and other stresses. As head of OSTP, Dr. Holdren will be a key source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President. Both will have a key role to play on climate change.

We applaud yesterday’s unanimous committee approval of Drs. Lubchenco and Holdren, and strongly urge their quick confirmation by the full Senate.

George Fenwick
President
American Bird Conservancy

Rebecca Wodder
President
American Rivers

David Helvarg
President
Blue Frontier Campaign

John DeCock
President
Clean Water Action

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

Trip Van Noppen
President
Earthjustice

Leda Huta
Executive Director
Endangered Species Coalition

Fred Krupp
President
Environmental Defense Fund

Brent Blackwelder
President
Friends of the Earth

Gene Karpinski
President
League of Conservation Voters

Bruce J. Stedman
Executive Director
Marine Fish Conservation Network

Larry Schweiger
President and CEO
National Wildlife Federation

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

Andrew F. Sharpless
Chief Executive Officer
Oceana

Vikki N. Spruill
President and CEO
Ocean Conservancy

John Seager
President
Population Connection

Amy Coen
CEO and President
Population Action International

Bill Meadows
President
The Wilderness Society

Kevin Knoblock
President
Union of Concerned Scientists

Carter Roberts
President and CEO
World Wildlife Fund

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