Senate Committee Holds Hearing for Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Water

On Wednesday, March 26th, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a confirmation hearing for three key appointed federal environmental positions. One of those positions is the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water, for which Jessica Kramer is nominated. President Trump nominated Kramer for the position following her service at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

In her confirmation hearing, Kramer spoke to her personal connection to the Office of Water’s mission. She highlighted the importance of cooperative federalism when referencing work she did to address a lead action level exceedance during her time at WDNR. She also emphasized her desire to streamline EPA’s regulatory frameworks to make water regulations clearer within the agency. Senators asked Kramer questions about her understanding of cooperative federalism, her stance on maintaining access to federal funding, and her strategy to reduce bureaucratic inefficiency in the agency.

Jessica Kramer formerly served as a staff member for the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The hearing adjourned at just after noon on Mach 26th.