A group of 170 lawmakers signed a resolution on Wednesday calling for the resignation of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. The resolution states,

“Expressing no confidence in the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and calling for the immediate resignation of the Administrator.”

The signing lawmakers cite the misuse of taxpayer dollars, dramatic cuts in budget and staff, a failure to enforce environmental regulations, and overriding the recommendations of scientists as key reasons they are calling on him to resign. The letter reads in part,

“Scott Pruitt, as Administrator, has misused tax-payer dollars by spending those taxpayer dollars on excessive personal conveniences and unnecessary office enhancements while dramatically cutting budgets and staff for critically important enforcement, research, and implementation activities…”

“By delaying the effective date of regulations, easing enforcement of existing regulations, and delaying implementation of new regulations, Administrator Pruitt is helping polluters at the expense of the health, safety, and livelihood of millions of people of the United States…”

The group of lawmakers signing the resolution include 39 senators and 131 representatives. From Washington, both Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell signed the resolution along with Representatives Denny Heck, Adam Smith, Derek Kilmer, Suzan DelBene, and Pramila Jayapal.

The resolution comes after over 30 environmental, labor, and civil rights organizations joined together to call for Pruitt’s resignation in a full-page newspaper ad that ran in the New York Times, the New York Post, and the Oklahoman on Wednesday morning.

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