On Wednesday, the United States Senate voted to confirmed Michael Regan as the Environmental Protection Agency Secretary. Regan previously worked as the head of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. He will now guide the EPA as the nation navigates a climate crisis, environmental racism and much more.
"As he did in North Carolina, I know [Regan] will work quickly to restore morale and achieve real results,” Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp said.
With a vote of 66-34, Regan became the first Black man to lead the EPA. During the Obama administration, Lisa Jackson became the first Black woman to lead the EPA.
"Michael Regan is the kind of person who can help unite us in common purpose as we respond to the climate crisis we face, as well as to clean our air, clean our water and strive to make sure that we don’t leave some of our communities, some of our neighbors behind in our efforts to do so," Senate Environment Committee Chairman Tom Carper said.
Regan is the second addition to the Biden administration this week. Yesterday, Rep. Marcia Fudge was confirmed as the next Housing and Urban Development Secretary. Like Regan, she was also confirmed with a vote of 66-34. She previously worked to represent the people of Akron and Cleveland, Ohio in the United States House of Representatives.
“I can think of no one better to lead us out of this pandemic and create strong communities for the future than Marcia Fudge,” Sen. Sherrod Brown said.
“When she came before the [committee], Congresswoman Fudge’s knowledge and passion for service, her commitment to the people who make this country work were obvious to all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike."
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