Michael Regan
Michael S. Regan was the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2021 to 2025. The Senate confirmed him on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66-34. Regan was the first Black man to lead the EPA.[1] Click here for more information about his confirmation process.
Regan also served as the North Carolina secretary of environmental quality from 2017 to 2021. He was appointed to the position by Governor Roy Cooper (D), assuming office on January 3, 2017.[2]
He previously worked for the EPA from 2001 to 2008. Regan also worked at the Environmental Defense Fund from 2008 to 2015.
Biography
Regan received a bachelor's degree in earth and environmental science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and an M.P.A. from George Washington University.[2]
Regan has more than two decades of experience in environmental advocacy and regulation. He previously worked for U.S. Climate and Energy, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Protection Agency. He also founded M. Regan & Associates LLC, an energy and environmental consulting firm.[2]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Regan's academic and professional experience:[3]
- 2021-2025: Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- 2017-2021: Cabinet secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- 2016: Founded M. Regan & Associates
- 2008-2015: Environmental Defense Fund
- 2015-2016: Associate vice president, U.S. Climate and Energy and Southeast Regional Director
- 2013-2015: Senior director, State Strategic Implementation
- 2001-2008: Environmental Protection Agency
- 2006-2008: National program manager at the Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
- 2003-2006: Environmental protection specialist at the Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
- 2001-2003: Special assistant to the director of radiation and indoor air
- 1998-2001: Special assistant to the U.S. assistant administrator of air and radiation
- 2005: Received MPA in federal policy, politics, and management from George Washington University
- 1998: Received B.S. in environmental science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Nomination for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- See also: Joe Biden presidential transition and Confirmation process for Michael Regan for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
| Joe Biden's Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate: Michael Regan | ||
| Position: Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | ||
| Announced: | December 17, 2020 | |
| Hearing: | February 3, 2021 | |
| Committee: | Environment and Public Works | |
| Reported: | Favorable (14-6) | |
| Confirmed: | March 10, 2021 | |
| Vote: | 66-34 | |
On December 17, 2020, President Joe Biden (D) announced that he had selected Regan as his nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[4]
In a press release, Biden’s office said, “The current Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Regan has served in the EPA under both Democratic and Republican presidents and has a distinguished track record of bringing people together across the public, private, and non-profit sectors to advance environmental justice and seek solutions to environmental and climate challenges.”[4]
The EPA defines the role of the administrator as being "responsible for managing and enforcing the nation's environmental laws and regulations, preparing the annual budget of the agency, leading U.S. government efforts related to the environment at home and abroad, and other responsibilities."[5]
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held Regan's confirmation hearing on February 3, 2021. The Senate confirmed Regan on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66-34.
| Summary of Senate vote on Michael Regan's nomination for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (March 10, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for | Votes against | Not voting |
| 48 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | 66 | 34 | 0 |
Click on the following table to view the full roll call.
| Senate vote on Michael Regan's nomination for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (March 10, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Richard Shelby | No | |
| Alabama | Tommy Tuberville | No | |
| Alaska | Lisa Murkowski | Yes | |
| Alaska | Dan Sullivan | No | |
| Arizona | Kyrsten Sinema | Yes | |
| Arizona | Mark Kelly | Yes | |
| Arkansas | John Boozman | No | |
| Arkansas | Tom Cotton | No | |
| California | Dianne Feinstein | Yes | |
| California | Alex Padilla | Yes | |
| Colorado | Michael F. Bennet | Yes | |
| Colorado | John Hickenlooper | Yes | |
| Connecticut | Richard Blumenthal | Yes | |
| Connecticut | Chris Murphy | Yes | |
| Delaware | Tom Carper | Yes | |
| Delaware | Chris Coons | Yes | |
| Florida | Rick Scott | No | |
| Florida | Marco Rubio | Yes | |
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff | Yes | |
| Georgia | Raphael Warnock | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Mazie Hirono | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Brian Schatz | Yes | |
| Idaho | Mike Crapo | No | |
| Idaho | James E. Risch | No | |
| Illinois | Dick Durbin | Yes | |
| Illinois | Tammy Duckworth | Yes | |
| Indiana | Mike Braun | Yes | |
| Indiana | Todd Young | No | |
| Iowa | Chuck Grassley | Yes | |
| Iowa | Joni Ernst | No | |
| Kansas | Roger Marshall | No | |
| Kansas | Jerry Moran | No | |
| Kentucky | Mitch McConnell | No | |
| Kentucky | Rand Paul | No | |
| Louisiana | Bill Cassidy | No | |
| Louisiana | John Kennedy | No | |
| Maine | Susan Collins | Yes | |
| Maine | Angus King | Yes | |
| Maryland | Benjamin L. Cardin | Yes | |
| Maryland | Chris Van Hollen | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | Elizabeth Warren | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | Ed Markey | Yes | |
| Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | Yes | |
| Michigan | Gary Peters | Yes | |
| Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | Yes | |
| Minnesota | Tina Smith | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Roger Wicker | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Cindy Hyde-Smith | Yes | |
| Missouri | Josh Hawley | No | |
| Missouri | Roy Blunt | No | |
| Montana | Steve Daines | No | |
| Montana | Jon Tester | Yes | |
| Nebraska | Deb Fischer | Yes | |
| Nebraska | Ben Sasse | No | |
| Nevada | Jacky Rosen | Yes | |
| Nevada | Catherine Cortez Masto | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | Maggie Hassan | Yes | |
| New Jersey | Robert Menendez | Yes | |
| New Jersey | Cory Booker | Yes | |
| New Mexico | Ben Ray Luján | Yes | |
| New Mexico | Martin Heinrich | Yes | |
| New York | Charles E. Schumer | Yes | |
| New York | Kirsten Gillibrand | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Richard Burr | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Thom Tillis | Yes | |
| North Dakota | John Hoeven | No | |
| North Dakota | Kevin Cramer | Yes | |
| Ohio | Rob Portman | Yes | |
| Ohio | Sherrod Brown | Yes | |
| Oklahoma | James M. Inhofe | No | |
| Oklahoma | James Lankford | No | |
| Oregon | Ron Wyden | Yes | |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley | Yes | |
| Pennsylvania | Pat Toomey | No | |
| Pennsylvania | Robert P. Casey | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Jack Reed | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Sheldon Whitehouse | Yes | |
| South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | Yes | |
| South Carolina | Tim Scott | No | |
| South Dakota | John Thune | No | |
| South Dakota | Mike Rounds | Yes | |
| Tennessee | Bill Hagerty | No | |
| Tennessee | Marsha Blackburn | No | |
| Texas | John Cornyn | No | |
| Texas | Ted Cruz | No | |
| Utah | Mitt Romney | Yes | |
| Utah | Mike Lee | Yes | |
| Vermont | Patrick Leahy | Yes | |
| Vermont | Bernie Sanders | Yes | |
| Virginia | Mark R. Warner | Yes | |
| Virginia | Tim Kaine | Yes | |
| Washington | Maria Cantwell | Yes | |
| Washington | Patty Murray | Yes | |
| West Virginia | Shelley Moore Capito | No | |
| West Virginia | Joe Manchin | Yes | |
| Wisconsin | Ron Johnson | No | |
| Wisconsin | Tammy Baldwin | Yes | |
| Wyoming | John Barrasso | No | |
| Wyoming | Cynthia Lummis | No | |
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Senate confirms Michael Regan to lead EPA," March 10, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, "Michael S. Regan," accessed December 19, 2017
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Michael Regan," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Biden-Harris Transition, "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of His Climate Team," December 17, 2020
- ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA's Administrators," accessed December 22, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 2021-2025 |
Succeeded by James Payne |
| Preceded by - |
North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality 2017-2021 |
Succeeded by - |
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