Seven of President Donald Trump’s nominees for energy and environmental agencies took a step closer toward confirmation Wednesday.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved six of the picks on 10-9 party-line votes, including Jeffrey Hall to lead EPA’s enforcement office and Douglas Troutman to head the agency’s chemicals office, as well as a slate of four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Ho Nieh, the president’s pick to serve on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, was the only candidate to garner bipartisan support, with a 13-6 vote.
Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) joined all Republicans in supporting Nieh, who has deep experience in nuclear energy regulation.
