NOMINATIONS OF THE 107th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

430 Pages·7.9 MB·English

by  Committee on Environment and Public Works

S. HRG. 107–324
NOMINATIONS OF THE 107th CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION
HEARINGS
BEFORETHE
COMMITTEE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
MAY 17, 2001: LINDA FISHER, TO BE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY; JEFFREY HOLMSTEAD, TO BE ASSISTANT ADMINIS-
TRATOR FOR AIR AND RADIATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; STE-
PHEN JOHNSON, TOBEASSISTANTADMINISTRATORFORTOXICSUBSTANCES, EN-
VIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; AND JAMES CONNAUGHTON, TO THE
COUNCILONENVIRONMENTALQUALITY
JULY 25, 2001: DAVID A. SAMPSON, TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECO-
NOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE; ROBERT FABRICANT, TO
BE GENERAL COUNSEL, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; GEORGE TRACY
MEHAN III, TOBEASSISTANTADMINISTRATORFORWATER, ENVIRONMENTALPRO-
TECTION AGENCY; JUDITH ELIZABETH AYRES, TO BE ASSISTANT ADMINIS-
TRATOR FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY;
DONALD R. SCHREGARDUS, TO BE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ENFORCE-
MENTANDCOMPLIANCEASSURANCE, ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONAGENCY
SEPTEMBER 21, 2001: BRIG. GEN. EDWIN J. ARNOLD, TO THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER COMMISSION; BRIG. GEN. CARL A. STROCK, TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
COMMISSION; NILS J. DIAZ, TO BE COMMISSIONER, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COM-
MISSION; PATRICK HAYES JOHNSON, TOBEFEDERALCOCHAIRPERSON, DELTA
REGIONALAUTHORITY; HAROLD CRAIG MANSON, TOBEASSISTANTSECRETARY
FOR FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; MARIANNE
LAMONT HORINKO, TO BE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR SOLID WASTE AND
EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; PAUL MICHAEL
PARKER, TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR CIVIL WORKS; AND
MARY E. PETERS, TO BE ADMINISTRATOR, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION,
DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION
OCTOBER 17, 2001: WILLIAM W. BAXTER, TO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AU-
THORITY; KIMBERLY TERESE NELSON, TOBEASSISTANTADMINISTRATORFOR
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; AND STE-
VEN A. WILLIAMS, TOBEDIRECTOR, U.S. FISHANDWILDLIFESERVICE, DEPART-
MENTOFTHEINTERIOR
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
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COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS1
FIRST SESSION: JANUARY 25–JUNE 6, 2001
BOB SMITH, New Hampshire, Chairman
HARRY REID, Nevada, Ranking Democratic Member
JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia MAX BAUCUS, Montana
JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma BOB GRAHAM, Florida
CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut
GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio BARBARA BOXER, California
MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho RON WYDEN, Oregon
LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
ROBERT F. BENNETT, Utah HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado JON S. CORZINE, New Jersey
DAVE CONOVER, Republican Staff Director
ERIC WASHBURN, Democratic Staff Director
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION: JULY 10–DECEMBER 20, 2001
JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont, Chairman
MAX BAUCUS, Montana BOB SMITH, New Hampshire
HARRY REID, Nevada JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia
BOB GRAHAM, Florida JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri
BARBARA BOXER, California GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio
RON WYDEN, Oregon MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware LINCOLN CHAFEE, Rhode Island
HILARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania
JON S. CORZINE, New Jersey BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado
KEN CONNOLLY, Majority Staff Director
DAVE CONOVER, Minority Staff Director
1NOTE: During the first session of the 107th Congress, the committee roster
appeared in the Congressional Record on January 25, 2001.
On June 6, 2001, the majority of the Senate changed from Republican to
Democrat when Senator James M. Jeffords, of Vermont, changed party
affiliation from Republican to Independent. Senator Harry Reid, of Ne-
vada, assumed the chairmanship of the committee. On July 10, 2001,
Senator Jeffords was appointed as chairman of the committee by the
Democratic Leader.
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C O N T E N T S
Page
MAY 17, 2001
OPENING STATEMENTS
Baucus, Hon. Max, U.S. Senator from the State of Montana ............................ 27
Bond, Hon. Christopher S., U.S. Senator from the State of Missouri ............... 8
Carper, Hon. Thomas R., U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware ................. 8
Clinton, Hon. Hillary Rodham, U.S. Senator from the State of New York ....... 21
Inhofe, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma ................... 6
Reid, Hon. Harry, U.S. Senator from the State of Nevada ................................ 4
Smith, Hon. Bob, U.S. Senator from the State of New Hampshire ................... 1
Voinovich, Hon. George V., U.S. Senator from the State ofOhio........................ 26
WITNESSES
Connaughton, James, Nominated to be a Member of the Council on Environ-
mental Quality ..................................................................................................... 14
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 104
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 102
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 114
Senator Reid .............................................................................................. 115
Fisher, Linda, Nominated to be Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protec-
tion Agency ........................................................................................................... 9
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 30
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 28
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 41
Senator Reid .............................................................................................. 38
Senator Voinovich ..................................................................................... 40
Senator Wyden .......................................................................................... 43
Holmstead, Jeffrey, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Air
and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency ............................................ 11
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 45
Letters, Comments on PM standards ............................................................. 72
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 44
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 69
Senator Clinton ......................................................................................... 70
Senator Corzine ......................................................................................... 71
Senator Lieberman .................................................................................... 69
Senator Reid .............................................................................................. 56
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 66
Senator Voinovich ..................................................................................... 67
Statement, Testimony before House committee on air quality standards ... 61
Johnson, Stephen, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Toxic
Substances, Environmental Protection Agency ................................................. 13
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 83
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 81
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 100
Senator Clinton ......................................................................................... 102
Senator Reid .............................................................................................. 98
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 96
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Johnson, Stephen, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Toxic
Substances, Environmental Protection Agency—Continued
Responses to additional questions from—Continued
Senators Smith/Reid ................................................................................. 95
Senator Wyden .......................................................................................... 101
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Statement, nomination of Stephen Johnson, Senator Mikulski .......................... 2
JULY 25, 2001
OPENING STATEMENTS
Bond, Hon. Christopher S., U.S. Senator from the State of Missouri ............... 120
Chafee, Hon. Lincoln, U.S. Senator from the State of Rhode Island ................. 125
Inhofe, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma ................... 123
Jeffords, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont ................... 117
Smith, Hon. Bob, U.S. Senator from the State of New Hampshire ................... 120
Voinovich, Hon. George V., U.S. Senator from the State of Ohio ...................... 122
WITNESSES
Ayres, Judith Elizabeth, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator for the
Office of International Activities, Environmental Protection Agency.............. 131
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 179
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 177
Fabricant, Robert, Nominated to be General Counsel, Environmental Protec-
tion Agency ........................................................................................................... 127
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 149
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 148
Frost, Hon. Martin, U.S. Representative from the State of Texas ..................... 118
Hutchison, Hon. Kay Bailey, U.S. Senator from the State of Texas ................. 117
Mehan, George Tracy, III, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator for the
Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency........................................... 128
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 159
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 157
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Graham ........................................................................................ 176
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 175
Senator Voinovich ..................................................................................... 177
Sampson, David A., Nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Economic Devel-
opment, Department of Commerce..................................................................119, 125
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 141
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 138
Responses to additional questions from Senator Smith ................................ 146
Schregardus, Donald R., Nominated to be Assistant Administrator for the
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Environmental Protec-
tion Agency ........................................................................................................... 135
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 191
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 189
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Boxer ............................................................................................ 198
Senator Chafee .......................................................................................... 201
Senator Corzine ......................................................................................... 201
SEPTEMBER 21, 2001
OPENING STATEMENTS
Jeffords, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont ................... 205
Carper, Hon. Thomas R., U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware ................. 222
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WITNESSES
Arnold, Brigadier General Edwin J., Nominated to be a Member and Presi-
dent of the Mississippi River Commission ......................................................... 208
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 230
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 228
Cochran, Hon. Thad, U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi...................... 206
Diaz, Nils J., Nominated to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion ........................................................................................................................ 209
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 239
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 237
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Corzine ......................................................................................... 268
Senator Reid .............................................................................................. 270
Horinko, Marianne Lamont, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator, Office
of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection Agency 216
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 301
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 299
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Bond ............................................................................................. 315
Senator Boxer ............................................................................................ 318
Senator Clinton ......................................................................................... 320
Senator Corzine ......................................................................................... 319
Senator Jeffords......................................................................................... 311
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 313
Johnson, Patrick Hayes, Nominated to be Federal Cochairperson, Delta Re-
gional Authority ................................................................................................... 209
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 274
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 272
Responses to additional questions from Senator Jeffords ............................. 288
Manson, Harold Craig, Nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wild-
life, and Parks, Department of the Interior ....................................................... 214
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 322
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 320
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 333
Senator Boxer ............................................................................................ 334
Senator Jeffords......................................................................................... 331
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 334
Parker, Paul Michael, Nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Army
for Civil Works, Department of the Army.......................................................... 218
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 338
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 337
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 346
Senator Boxer ............................................................................................ 349
Senator Clinton ......................................................................................... 352
Senator Corzine ......................................................................................... 351
Senator Daschle ......................................................................................... 352
Senator Graham ........................................................................................ 348
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 344
Senator Wyden .......................................................................................... 347
Peters, Mary E., Nominated to be Administrator of the Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation ................................................ 219
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 355
Letter, Representative Bob Stump .................................................................. 354
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 352
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Jeffords......................................................................................... 363
Senator Lieberman .................................................................................... 366
Strock, Brigadier General Carl A., Nominated to be a Member of the Mis-
sissippi River Commission................................................................................... 210
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 291
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 289
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Letter, nomination of Mary Peters, Rep. Bob Stump ........................................... 354
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Statements:
Lincoln, Hon. Blanche Lambert, U.S. Senator from the State of Arkansas 227
McCain, Hon. John, U.S. Senator from the State of Arizona ....................... 226
OCTOBER 17, 2001
OPENING STATEMENTS
Jeffords, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont ................... 367
WITNESSES
Baxter, William W., Nominated to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the Tennessee Valley Authority...................................................................... 368
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 384
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 382
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Bunning ....................................................................................... 390
Senator Jeffords......................................................................................... 389
Senator Wyden .......................................................................................... 392
Nelson, Kimberly Terese, Nominated to be Assistant Administrator, Office
of Environmental Information, Environmental Protection Agency ................. 371
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 395
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 392
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Bond ............................................................................................. 405
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 403
Roberts, Hon. Pat, U.S. Senator from the State of Kansas ................................ 373
Thompson, Hon. Fred, U.S. Senator from the State of Tennessee .................... 367
Williams, Steven A., Nominated to be Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice, U.S. Department of the Interior................................................................... 374
Committee questionnaire ................................................................................. 408
Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 406
Responses to additional questions from:
Senator Baucus.......................................................................................... 419
Senator Boxer ............................................................................................ 419
Senator Chafee .......................................................................................... 418
Senator Lieberman .................................................................................... 423
Senator Smith ............................................................................................ 417
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Frist, Hon. Bill, U.S. Senator from the State of Tennessee ................................. 381
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NOMINATIONS OF THE 107th CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2001
U.S. SENATE,
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in room 628,
Senate Dirksen Building, Hon. Bob Smith (chairman of the com-
mittee) presiding.
CONSIDERATION OF THE NOMINATIONS OF LINDA FISHER,
JEFFREY HOLMSTEAD, STEPHEN JOHNSON, AND JAMES
CONNAUGHTON
Present: Senators Smith, Reid, Inhofe, Carper, Bond and Clinton.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB SMITH, U.S. SENATOR
FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Senator SMITH. The nomination hearing will come to order.
I would say good morning to the witnesses and our apologies for
being late but the Senate had other ideas for us this morning as
we had votes on the Senate floor.
I’m going to give each of you an opportunity in just a moment
to introduce your families who are here but first, by way of brief
introduction for each of you, the purpose today is consider all four
of your nominations for various positions at EPA—Linda Fisher, as
Deputy Administrator of the EPA; Jeffrey Holmstead for the posi-
tion of Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation; Stephen
Johnson to serve as Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances;
and finally Jim Connaughton, nominated to be a member of the
Council on Environmental Quality. I’d like to thank them for join-
ing us here today and for their willingness to meet with as many
Senators and their staffs as possible since the President sent us
their names. They are all very well qualified and I can say from
my meetings with them, they are also quality individuals with
quality families who we will meet here in a moment.
The Office of Government Ethics has certified that all four of
these nominees’ financial disclosure forms indicate that they are in
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing con-
flicts of interest.
Linda Fisher, as President Bush’s nominee, is no stranger to the
Agency. She has served in various positions in both the Reagan
and Bush Administrations and while there, Ms. Fisher was award-
ed the EPA Award for Sustained Outstanding Contributions to
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International Environmental Protection in 1991 and the EPA Out-
standing Service Award in 1984.
After leaving EPA, she joined the private sector working for
Monsanto, a company widely recognized for forward thinking on
environmental matters. She most recently held the title of Vice
President for Government Affairs at Monsanto.
She holds a BA from Miami University, an MBA from George
Washington and earned her law degree from the Ohio State Uni-
versity.
Jeffrey Holmstead, the nominee to be the new EPA Assistant Ad-
ministrator for the Office of Air and Radiation also served in the
first Bush Administration in the White House Counsel’s Office. In
his position as Assistant Counsel Mr. Holmstead’s primary focus
was environmental law, most recently working on the implementa-
tion of the Clean Air Act. He also worked with the Reactivity Re-
search Working Group and has been very involved in their efforts
exploring new and more effective approaches for controlling ground
level ozone.
Mr. Holmstead holds a BA and an AA from Brigham Young, as
well as a law degree from Yale.
Stephen Johnson has been nominated to serve as EPA’s Assist-
ant Administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxics. He has 25 years of direct experience with the issues facing
the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. He
joined EPA in 1979 in the position of pathologist in that same of-
fice. Most recently he has served as Acting Assistant Administrator
in that office.
For his service, he has received numerous annual performance
awards, Special Act Award, 1991; Meritorious Presidential Rank
Award, 1997; and has been nominated to receive the Distinguished
Presidential Rank Award.
Mr. Johnson earned a BA from Taylor University and a BS from
George Washington.
I would ask unanimous consent that a letter of support for Mr.
Johnson from Senator Mikulski be entered in the record at this
time.
[The information referred to follows:]
U.S. SENATE,
Washington, DC 20510, May 17, 2001.
Hon. BOBSMITH, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510.
DEAR SENATORS SMITH AND REID: I regret that I could not be there in person today
to introduce Stephen Johnson, and I hope you will share this letter with the mem-
bers of your committee as they consider Mr. Johnson’s nomination.
As you know, Mr. Johnson has been nominated to serve as EPA’s Assistant Ad-
ministrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. He is cur-
rently acting in this position, where he has the important responsibility of imple-
menting our nation’s pesticide, toxic substance, and pollution prevention laws.
Mr. Johnson is a lifelong resident of Maryland, and he has worked in public serv-
ice for over 20 years. In his many years of service to EPA, he has held positions
of increasing responsibility and earned several awards of distinction. His dedication
and service to EPA demonstrates his commitment to upholding the Agency’s critical
mission.
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I believe that Mr. Johnson’s nomination represents a unique accomplishment for
a career civil servant, and I hope that the committee will give him every appropriate
consideration.
Sincerely,
BARBARAA. MIKULSKI,
United States Senator.
Senator SMITH. Finally, James Connaughton has been nominated
to be a member of the President’s Council for Environmental Qual-
ity. Mr. Connaughton has been a partner in the Environmental law
firm of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood since 1991. He has spent his
career working on a variety of environmental issues including com-
pliance, environmental management, legislative issues and damage
assessment. He has substantial experience with handling ecological
risk and natural resource damage assessment and is knowledge-
able in the implementation of local, State and Federal laws per-
taining to environmental risk assessment.
Before joining Sidley Austin, Mr. Connaughton clerked for the
Honorable Marvin Aspen, U.S. District Court, Illinois.
He received his undergraduate degree from Yale and his law de-
gree from Northwestern.
Welcome to all of you.
Before I turn to Senator Reid and other members for opening
statements, I would ask each of you at this time if you have family
members here to please feel free to introduce them. We will start
with you, Ms. Fisher.
Ms. FISHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the fact we can go ahead and introduce the children
first. They have all pledged to perfect behavior throughout the
hearing. We will keep our fingers crossed.
Senator SMITH. That may not be true with the Senators.
[Laughter.]
Ms. FISHER. Let me first introduce my two children who are join-
ing me today, my son, Keenan, 7 years old and a first grader at
St. Patrick. As you can tell from his build, he is a hockey player
and likes baseball and basketball. Next to him is my daughter,
Kelly. Kelly is a kindergartener at St. Patrick’s and a 6-year-old.
She likes gymnastics and soccer.
Senator SMITH. Mr. Holmstead?
Mr. HOLMSTEAD. I am delighted to be able to introduce my chil-
dren as well. I am afraid we’re running short on granola bars so
I don’t know how long they’ll last before they need to excuse them-
selves.
Let me first introduce my wife, Lisa Holmstead who is a full-time
mother of our four children. Our oldest is Emily, who is 11 and a
fifth grader at the Rachel Carson Elementary School in Gaithers-
burg, Maryland. Her nickname is the reading machine. Next is my
8-year-old Eric. He’s a second grader at the Rachel Carson Elemen-
tary School. He has an orange cast on his foot as a result of a
biking accident but he’s hobbling around pretty well. Next is my 5-
year-old daughter Elizabeth, who is in kindergarten and who loves
to have breakfast with her dad. Finally is my 2-year-old son, Eli
who is very happy to be here. He’s being held by my mother, his
grandmother, Mellie Holmstead and my father who is seated next
to her, Kay Holmstead. Both of them are visiting for this event
from Bolder, Colorado.
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Senator SMITH. Nice to have you here.
Mr. Johnson?
Mr. JOHNSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I’d like to introduce my family as well. My wife, Debbie, is with
me today and our three children and our son-in-law. Our youngest
daughter is Allison. She’s a freshman at Taylor University in Indi-
ana and our son, Matthew, who is a junior at Taylor University.
Their final exams are next week, so they really enjoyed the oppor-
tunity to get out of class for a day to join us here.
Senator SMITH. Would you have been here if it had been next
week?
[Laughter.]
Mr. JOHNSON. And our oldest daughter, Kerry and our son-in-
law, Jeremy, are with us today as well.
It’s also my pleasure—and I’m not sure how unusual or routine
this is—but my mother-in-law and father-in-law are here today. I’d
like to introduce my father-in-law, John Jones and my mother-in-
law, June Jones.
For the record, I would like to note that believe I am in good
standing as a son-in-law, at least as of this morning.
Senator SMITH. Mr. Connaughton?
Mr. CONNAUGHTON. Mr. Chairman, first, I’ll introduce my wife,
Susanna Connaughton, and our two children, Spencer, who is nine
and a third grader at Sidwell Friends School; and Grace, who is six
and she’s at the Norwood School.
Also with me are my parents, Jim and Monica Connaughton. You
should know my parents came to this country shortly before I was
born from Ireland, so I know this is a special moment for them.
Also here is my mother-in-law, Stacey Bolten. I’m also in good
standing with her. She lives next door to us so I’d better be.
My sister, Eileen Hart, is here with my nephew, T.J., my niece,
Tara, and my other nephew, Michael.
Not here in person, but here in spirit are my sister, Bernadette;
my brother, Paul; my brother, John; their spouses and an addi-
tional ten nieces and nephews. There also is a whole crowd back
in Ireland who are very eager to see the report of this hearing.
Senator SMITH. Welcome to all of you. It’s nice to have you here.
It’s nice to see you here to support your family member to have the
honor of being nominated for a position in government. A lot of us
feel it is honorable service and in spite of what you read, there are
a lot of fantastic people who serve and make great sacrifices to
serve in government.
Senator Reid?
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. HARRY REID, U.S. SENATOR
FROM THE STATE OF NEVADA
Senator REID. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Mikulski has asked us to enter into the record a very
nice letter that she wrote on your behalf, Mr. Johnson, culminating
with ‘‘I believe Mr. Johnson’s nomination represents a unique ac-
complishment for a career civil servant. I hope the committee will
give him every appropriate consideration.’’
I would ask permission that my full statement be made a part
of the record.
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