The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Brenda Mallory to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which advises the president on issues such as environmental justice and conserving oceans, lands and wildlife. The upper chamber approved Mallory’s nomination in a 53-45 vote, with three Republicans voting with Democrats to back her: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Rob Portman (Ohio). Mallory, who served as the council’s top lawyer under the Obama administration, will be the first Black leader of the CEQ. The council is in charge of implementing a bedrock environmental law called the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The implementation of NEPA, which requires environmental analyses ahead of projects such as pipelines, highways and drilling on public lands, was rolled back under the Trump administration. To view the full article visit the Hill.
