January 17, 2017 Dear Senator, We the undersigned health professionals and members of health and public health organizations call on you to reject the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be the next EPA Administrator. The EPA is responsible for implementing the laws that protect our nation's air, water, and climate. Its work is critical to improving Americans' health and saving lives. Yet Mr. Pruitt has shown himself to be openly hostile to the EPA's mission of environmental and health protection. In fact, his own website calls him "a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda." As Oklahoma Attorney General, Mr. Pruitt: Worked to undermine the EPA's vital contributions to public health: Sued the EPA to halt the Regional Haze Rule that helps protect us from ozone, a dangerous air pollutant that causes irreversible lung damage. Yet the American Lung Association's 2016 "State of the Air" report gave all Oklahoma counties surveyed an "F" for ozone levels and found that the number of high ozone days had increased in most counties compared to 2010‐2012. Sued the EPA to weaken the Waters of the U.S. Rule, which protects one‐third of the sources of surface water that people drink. Sued the EPA to halt the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that reduce air pollution from coal‐ and oil‐fired power plants rule. Mercury is a neurological toxin that causes brain damage in developing fetuses and children. Sought to undercut protections from climate change: Promoted inaccurate and dangerous misinformation about climate change. Pruitt wrote, for example, "Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind." This is untrue. An overwhelming scientific consensus upholds that climate change is real, is happening now, and that human activity plays a significant role. Sued to overturn the EPA's scientific "endangerment" finding that carbon dioxide and other heat‐trapping air pollutants are harmful to human health and well‐being. Sued to block the EPA from setting limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, the nation's largest source of this climate change‐accelerating pollution. Served as an instrument of the oil and gas industry: As a public official, signed and sent letters drafted by industry lawyers and lobbyists to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department and even President Obama. According to the New York Times, Pruitt took one such letter and, after changing just 37 words in the 1,016‐word draft, copied it onto his state government letterhead and sent it to Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator. Was investigated by the New York Times as part of an "unprecedented, secretive alliance" with large fossil fuel companies. Received more than $300,000 during his state office candidacy from the fossil fuel industry. The laws and standards that protect the environment are essential to the health of all Americans. The office of EPA Administrator must be held by someone who will defend the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate we live in. Yet Mr. Pruitt has shown by his views and actions that he is willing to sacrifice the environment and endanger human lives. Given the severity of that threat, and in accordance with our responsibility as healthcare professionals and allies, we call on Congress to reject Scott Pruitt's nomination to lead the EPA. Signed, Alaska Alison Reichle, PhD. Tucson Hans U Tschersich, MD. Kodiak Allen Holloway, MD. Phoenix John S. S. Sonin, PT. Juneau Amy Salvato, Tucson Marlanne Mills, MSW. Juneau Angela Wojtowicz, ND. Tucson Michael Glasheen, Kodiak Ann Khambholja, Tucson N. Burrows, Anchorage Anna Binkiewicz, MD. Tucson Sarah Kehoe PA‐C, PA. Talkeetna Anne‐Marie Treon, Phoenix Susan Vogt, Fairbanks Barbara Warren, MD. Tucson Bill Christie, Tucson Alabama Bobbie VandeGriff, Tucson David L. Smith, MD. Spanish Fort Bonnie Hughes, RN. Scottsdale Ginger Carter, Decatur Carl Kanun, MD. Tucson Lawrence Holland, PhD. Huntsville Carl Freeman, MD. Tucson Ralph Timberlake, Huntsville Carol Keck, RN. Tucson Sandra Arapoudis, Rhodos Carol Mitchell, RN. Tucson Carol Goerke, Tempe Arkansas Catherine Williams, Tucson John Covey, EMT. Marianna David Kessler, Phoenix Judy McKinney, Holiday Island Denise Romesburg, Phoenix Keith Runion, PhD. Little Rock Diane Kent, Phoenix Shearle Furnish, PhD. Little Rock Dianne Douglas, Phoenix Tracey Ahring, Dennard Dona LaSchiava, Tucson Walter Boyd, Van Buren Douglas Stuart, PhD. Tucson Eleanor Francis, Tubac Arizona Eric Ossowski, MD. Scottsdale Eve Shapiro, MD. Tucson Eric Vance, Phoenix Mary Ann Graffagnino, MD. Tucson Frank Wyse, Mesa Frank Graffagnino, MD. Tucson Helen Greer, Tucson Albert Bechtel, Green Valley J V Stills, Litchfield Park Jane Webb, Green Valley Edward Fisher, Pasadena Janet Chase, RN. Sedona Richard Dawson, Los Angeles Jerome Roth, Tempe Mark Klein, MD. Santa Rosa Jim McIntosh, Tucson Nancy Marling, Livermore John Curtiss, MD. Tucson Arnd Martin Herz, MD. Oakland John Nickum, PhD. Fountain Hills Anne McCammon, MD. La Jolaa Joseph Reesha, Phoenix Judith Murphy, MD. Portola Valley Judith Castiano, Peoria Thomas Newman, MD. San Carlos Kaaren Zvonik, MD. Green Valley Richard And Carolyn Rosenstein, MD. Los Karen Christian, OTR. Vail Angeles Kyle Schmierer, Phoenix Robert Gould, MD. San Francisco Laurel Hieb, Flagstaff Helen Loeser, MD. San Francisco Linda Jones, Sedona A Haley, FNP. Camp Connell Linda Kane, Mesa A Bonvouloir, Sunnyvale Lois Jordan, Tucson Abigail Bates, Los Angeles Louise Kligman, MSW. Tucson Alice Stek, MD. Venice Mansur Johnson, Tucson Alice Neuhauser, Manhattan Beach Marian Baker Gierlach, RD. Pearce Alonna Farrar, Vista Mark Hayduke Grenard, Phoenix Amber Coverdale Sumrall, Soquel Mary Gresham, RN. Tucson Andrea Bonnett, Altadena Melvin Bautista, Phoenix Andrew Frey, PhD. Pasadena Michael Kirkby, Toronto Andrew Lee, South San Francisco Michael And Kathleen Shores, Tempe Andy Tomsky, San Marcos Nancy Godwin, Tucson Angel Portillo, Pasadena Natalie Houghton, Prescott Angie Bray, Venice Pamela Kielbowicz, FNP. Scottsdale Anita Coolidge, Cardiff Pamela Ensign, Tucson Anje' Waters, Grass Valley Patricia Always, Sun City Anna Steiner, MPH. Oakland Patrick O'Brien, Mesa Anne Simons, MD. San Francisco Quintin Ortiz, Tucson Anne Swanson, PhD. Campbell Randall Bash, Scottsdale Anne Corrigan, San Diego Robert Orford, MD. Fountain Hills Anne Cowden, Santa Rosa Ruth Wootten, MSW. Tempe Anne Gordon, Los Angeles Sara Fisch, LPN. Scottsdale Anthony Montapert, Ventura Sereta Robinson, PhD. Tucson Antonio Pierola, OTR. Alhambra Sharon McDonough‐Means, MD. Tucson Arleen Whitmore, San Leandro Teresa Wall, MPH. Mesa Armando Gomez, Santa Rosa Terry Tedesco‐Kerrick, Phoenix Art Goldberg, Berkeley Timothy Fagan, MD. TUCSON Arthur Delgadillo, Lakewood Tracy Cole, Glendale Ashley Lewis, Fairfax Velda Smith, NP. Sun Lakes Ayesha Gill, PhD. Oakland Barbara Scheinman, LCSW. Mission Viejo California Barbara Witney, LCSW. Emeryville Christine Evelyn, MD. La Canada Barbara Bennigson, Palo Alto Flintridge Barbara King, Los Angeles Jamie Solow, PhD. Culver City Barrie Stebbings, Stinson Beach Barry Kaufman, Burbank Celeste Hong, Los Angeles Ben Ruwe, Felton Chandra Stephens, PhD. Sebastopol Bernard Offen, Rohnert Park Chantal Hildebrand, MPH. Oakland Betty Murphy, Long Beach Charlene Root, Whittier Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay Charles Murphy, MD. Ventura Beverly Farr, Goleta Charles Langelier, MD. Pacifica Beverly Johnson, Hesperia Charles Wolfe, Sylmar Blanche Korfmacher, LCSW. San Charles Hochberg, Philo Francisco Cherie Connick, Crescent City Bob Rosenberg, DDS. Kentfield Cheryl Tchir, Redondo Beach Bob Saxon, Fort Bragg Chester Gabriel, Cupertino Bonnie Kohleriter, DSW. Alamo Chip Phillips, Los Angeles Bonnie Long, LMT. Long Beach Chris Brazis, PT. San Francisco Bonnie Breckenridge, San Diego Christa Neuber, West Hollywood Brad Nelson, Oxnard Christel Uittenbogaart, MD. Malibu Bradley Monash, MD. Mill Valley Christie Brown, Barstow Brian Boortz, Los Gatos Christina Nillo, West Hollywood Bridgett Heinly, San Diego Christine Tobey, Los Angeles Bruce Bekkar, MD. Del Mar Christopher D. Stanton, MD. Portola Bruce Grobman, Santa Cruz Christopher Lish, San Rafael C G, San Diego Claudia Linhares, Alameda Caitlin Miller, RN. Oakland Claudia Greene, Oakland Camille Gilbert, Santa Barbara Clelia Corona, RN. Riverside, Carl Carl, San Francisco Cleo Masur, Clearlake Carla Davis, Corte Madera Colleen Lobel, San Diego Carmen Dello Buono, San Jose Corinne Van Houten, PhD. Sacramento Carol Patton, Kensington Cristina Roberts, El Centro Carol Gold, Fairfax Crystal Silas, MD. Visalia Carol Rowland, Creston D. Bradley, MD. Diablo Carol Gordon, PhD. Los Angeles Dale McKenna, Lompoc Carol McMahon, Placerville Danielle Rosenman, MD. Oakland Carol Berghen, San Francisco Darrell Clarke, Pasadena Carol Wiley, Victorville Darren Frale, Los Angeles Carol Banever, Los Angeles Dave Anderson, Berkeley Carol Cross, Redwood City David Drum, Los Angeles Caroline Good, Sherman Oaks David Gardner, Santa Monica Carolyn Shuman, MD. San Francisco David Levy, Carlsbad Caryn Molinelli, Ojai David Saperia, MD. Santa Monica Casee Maxfield, Los Angeles David Karchem, PhD. Chatsworth Catherine Walsh, PhD. Northridge David Bezanson, PhD. San Bruno Catherine Loudis, RN. San Anselmo David Broadwater, Atascadero Catherine George, Napa David Dexter, Mill Valley Cathy Ziska, Carlsbad Dean Frick, San Francisco Cecile Leneman, Berkeley Deanna Knickerbocker, Santa Clara Cecilia Brown, PA. Oakland Debra