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Help Free Holdren and Lubchenco nominations!
According to The Washington Post and our friends at Climate Science Watch,
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has placed a hold on the confirmation of John
Holdren as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) and of Jane Lubchenco as the Administrator of the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This technique is used
by senators to block or delay a presidential appointment. In this case
Senator Mendendez is reportedly holding up the nominations of these leading
scientists whose appointment was announced by then President-elect Obama in
mid-December (see http://ncseonline.org/Updates/cms.cfm?id=2862) due to a
completely unrelated matter dealing with Cuba policy.
NCSE contacted Senator Menendez's office on Tuesday and was told that they
were receiving lots of calls and emails on the topic, but they would not say
whether the Senator is holding up the nominations. NCSE told the Senator's
staffer that they should expect many, many more calls unless they release
the hold and that we would check back today before alerting our list. As of
this morning when NCSE called back, Senator Mendendez's office still was
unwilling to provide any information, other than to say that the Senator was
extremely committed to the environment and that they had received calls and
emails on the issue. Therefore we urge everyone who receives this message,
especially New Jersey residents to call, fax or email Senator Menendez TODAY
at phone 202.224.4744;
202.228.2197 fax; or email using the form at
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Please also send an email to [email protected] to let us know that you
have contacted Senator Menendez and what response your received if any.
What you say matters much less than the volume of contacts the Senator
receives. A simple message to allow the nominations to proceed is
sufficient.
See below for more information from Climate Science Watch.
Thanks,
David E. Blockstein, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary,
Council of Environmental Deans and Directors
Senior Scientist
National Council for Science and the Environment
NEW ADDRESS 1101 17th St. NW #250
Washington DC 20036
202-207-0004 direct
202-530-5810 general
202-628-4311 fax
[email protected]
www.ncseonline.org
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Thank you.
http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/senator_robert_mene
ndez_d_nj_delays_confirmation_of_john_holdren_and_jane_l/
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) delays confirmation of John Holdren and Jane
Lubchenco
Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009
The Washington Post reports
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR200903020
2425.html> this morning that the long-awaited Senate confirmation of
Presidential Science Adviser John Holdren and NOAA Administrator Jane
Lubchenco has been put "on hold" by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) over an
unrelated matter. We wrote a letter to the Senator urging him to withdraw
his objection, contacted his office by phone, and encourage our colleagues
to do likewise. Contact information follows, see details....
Juliet Eilperin's article
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR200903020
2425.html> reports;
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has placed a "hold" that blocks votes on
confirming Harvard University physicist John Holdren, who is in line to lead
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Oregon State
University marine biologist Jane Lubchenco, Obama's nominee to head the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ....Menendez is [allegedly]
using the holds as leverage to get Senate leaders' attention for a matter
related to Cuba ...
Anyone wishing to urge the Senator to release his hold immediately so we can
get down to the business of dealing with climate disruption --including the
eventual inundation of the New Jersey shore as a result of sea level
rise-can do so by placing a phone call to his office and/or sending a note:
Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ)
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
http://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
We are seeing that grassroots democracy is an increasingly powerful means
for advancing our civic responsibilities in dealing with climate disruption.
We see no reason why his phone should not be ringing off the hook and his
email flooded today over this matter.
Here is our letter to the Senator:
Climate Science Watch
http://www.climatesciencewatch.org
Government Accountability Project
http://www.whistleblower.org
1612 K Street, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Senator Robert Menendez
528 Hart Senate Office Building
US Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Sen. Menendez:
We read in today's Washington Post ('Nominations on Hold For 2 Top Science
Posts' by Juliet Eilperin) that you have, allegedly, placed a hold on the
Senate confirmation votes for Dr. John Holdren for Director of the White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Dr. Jane Lubchenco to run
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both were named nearly
three months ago, and the non-controversial nomination hearing was held
three weeks ago. There is no excuse for further delay, as climate
disruption poses serious threats to our economy, our environment, and our
overall security. Much important work is stalled because of your actions;
we urge you to withdraw your objection and resolve your unrelated issues
independently of this matter.
Drs. Holdren and Lubchenco are widely recognized experts on climate change;
both hold national and international notoriety for their life-long
achievements. In the interest of responsibly dealing with one of the
biggest challenges of our time -not to mention a looming threat to your own
constituents in New Jersey who face the prospect of coastal flooding and
more dangerous storm surges as a result of sea level rise and other myriad
impacts - we respectfully appeal to your good judgment and ask you to
release the hold on the Senate confirmation.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rick Piltz, Director
Anne Polansky, Sr. Associate
Climate Science Watch
CSW holds government officials accountable for applying scientific research
and policy analysis with integrity to the crucial task of "avoiding the
unmanageable while managing the unavoidable" ecological, societal, and
economic impacts of global climatic disruption.
http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/2009/03/the_latest_outrage_holds_on_ho.
php
<http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/2009/03/the_latest_outrage_holds_on_ho
.php> The Latest Outrage: Holds on Holdren, Lubchencho
Category: <http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/global_warming/> Global
Warming . <http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/politics/> Politics .
<http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/politics_and_science/> Politics and
Science
The Washington Post (the news part) reports
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR200903020
2425.html?sub=AR> that the man who is now one of my senators, Robert
Menendez of New Jersey, has placed a hold on the nominations of John Holdren
and Jane Lubchencho, and won't allow them to be voted on. Reportedly,
"Menendez is using the holds as leverage to get Senate leaders' attention
for a matter related to Cuba rather than questioning the nominees'
credentials."
What a complete outrage. These nominees need to work on climate change,
science advising, and much else; they have no role in Cuba policy. Obama
named them back in December--they should be in their offices by now. This is
the most shallow form of politicking, and prevents the new administration
from getting going.
Here's your chance to tell Senator
<http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm> Menendez what you think.
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