26 Groups Call on Senate to Reject Trump’s OIRA Nominee, Paul Ray
Note to Reporters
The U.S. Senate should reject Paul Ray, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), 26 consumer, labor, environmental and public interest groups said in a letter sent to Capitol Hill today. Ray’s background, limited qualifications and actions while serving as acting administrator of OIRA make clear that he does not understand the importance of strong regulations that protect public health, safety and our environment, the groups maintain.
“Mr. Ray’s nomination continues and reinforces a disturbing pattern under the Trump administration of individuals being nominated to lead federal agencies who have previously served as lobbyists for corporate interests that are regulated by those agencies or have otherwise expressed fundamental opposition to the missions of those agencies in protecting the public. Thus, Mr. Ray’s background and limited qualifications raise strong concerns that he does not appreciate the vital role that regulations play in protecting the environment as well as the health, safety and civil rights of Americans,” the letter reads.