The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to advance President Donald Trump’s pick to oversee State Department international oceans and environment work.
Lawmakers approved Wesley Brooks 15-7 Wednesday to become assistant secretary of State for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs.
Brooks, who previously highlighted deep-sea mining and protecting the plastics industry as priorities, would oversee international policy and cooperation on oceans, biodiversity and the environment.
At least 10 environment groups — including the Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch and Greenpeace USA — decried Brooks’ nomination in a letter to Chair Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) and ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) this week.
