DOT Nominee Jeffrey Rosen Dangerous to Americans’ Health, Safety
March 29, 2017
DOT Nominee Jeffrey Rosen Dangerous to Americans’ Health, Safety
36 Groups, Experts Urge Senators to Reject Rosen as DOT Deputy Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the health and safety of the American public, Jeffrey Rosen’s nomination for deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) should be rejected, 36 groups and experts said today in a letter (PDF) to senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
“Placing Jeffrey A. Rosen in charge of day-to-day operations at the Department of Transportation would be disastrous for American families, who under his regime would face higher risks on the road and in the air, more limits on their access to the courts, and irrevocable harm to their natural environment,” the letter reads.
Rosen has a long record of opposing critical protections for Americans’ health, safety and finances, and particularly safeguards within the jurisdiction of the DOT, the groups say. Rosen and his firm have represented companies and industry groups – including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – that have strong anti-regulatory agendas before the DOT. His record shows that his views are closely aligned with industry and against the interests of American families.
Previously, Rosen served as general counsel to the DOT. During his time in this role, he boasted that he helped terminate or withdraw 180 potential rulemakings, the letter points out. In several safety standards, extraordinary language was added that was designed to curtail civil actions in cases of defective products brought by injured citizens against manufacturers.
In private practice, Rosen represented the Chamber in challenging tailpipe pollution rules and challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s finding that greenhouse gases from motor vehicles endanger human health and welfare by contributing to climate change.
Rosen has a history of hostility to public safeguards. He has repeated outlandish, debunked industry talking points on the purported cost of safeguards and has publicly supported legislation that would virtually shut down the regulatory process.
The groups are urging the senators to vigorously oppose Rosen’s nomination.
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