Amata Highlights EPA Nomination of Her Former Colleague Rep. Lee Zeldin
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting the announcement that President-elect Trump will nominate former Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Rep. Zeldin (pictured at left end of the group) and Rep. Amata on Christmas Eve during CODEL to visit military stationed in the Middle East (file photo)
“Lee Zeldin is an Army veteran, and a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, who was known in Congress for leading yearly delegations to visit the troops over Christmas. I’ve made that trip several times with him, so I know him well, especially from our Christmas visits to our military in the Middle East and Europe,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata.
“It’s always helpful to our small territory when nominees for key federal roles are already a friend and former colleague, like Congressman Zeldin,” continued Amata. “Our territory works closely with the EPA and the Pacific Southwest regional leadership (Region 9) on important protections for our home, including grants for local efforts. My expectation is that as Administrator, under President Trump’s direction, Congressman Zeldin will put a focus on the programs that are most effective and are the primary purpose of the EPA. As our islands needs tend to be clear and straightforward, I believe American Samoa Government can work well with this administration’s EPA priorities. We want our island to be healthy and stay beautiful, in partnership with the EPA.”
The EPA was created by Congress in 1970, signed into law by President Nixon, to spearhead better research, combat health threats to drinking water, and lead cleanups of coasts and waters.
In Congress, Rep. Zeldin was a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, who also has served in the New York State Senate, and has issue-related experience as attorney for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
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