Office of the General Secretary National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA September 26, 1995 The Honorable Max Baucus Dear Senator Baucus: SEP 2 6 1995' I am writing on behalf of Kathleen McGinty's confirmation as Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. I believe that my support would be solidly underscored by the heads of 32 member communions of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCCC). The NCCC is also a founding member of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment--whose other participants include the U.S. Catholic Conference, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (major national Jewish agencies), and the Evangelical Environmental Network (a coalition of evangelical relief agencies and educational institutions). Together, these faith groups serve 100 million Americans. What this letter represents, therefore, is not only my own sentiments but those widely held across a remarkably broad spectrum of an entire sector of society: the mainstream American faith community. I stress this because major religious denominations have not, until recently, been deeply engaged in environmental activity. Given the many areas in which the religious community is called into deliberations with Congress, our outreach to you on behalf of Katie McGinty's confirmation should be taken as further evidence of her remarkable service and breadth of support. We do not regularly engage in such activity around Presidential appointments. You and your colleagues are familiar, no doubt, with her concrete accomplishments: resolving disputes, revising and re-inventing regulations, promoting greater efficiency, and saving taxpayer funds. You must know, as we do, that Katie McGinty is able to hold firm convictions and yet be a remarkable consensus-builder. It is our experience and understanding that she has maintained great openness of mind in the midst of a very volatile political moment. With remarkable and disarming good humor, she has assembled people of different points of view and helped shape difficult decisions for the general welfare. And are there any officials in the Executive Branch who work harder, or have spent more time selflessly? 475 Riverside Drive Room 880 New York, NY 10115-0050 212-870-2141 Fax 212-870.2817 Your choice here, we believe, is to separate out partisanship and divergent perspectives on policy--all of which can and will continue--for the purpose of acknowledging a remarkably gifted woman, demonstrably dedicated to serving the common good. Katie McGinty is someone whom all of us can work with, someone who can help all of us work together. In coming months and years, there will continue to be moments of strong disagreements on environmental policy. What is critical to us is that there be conscientious and collaborative presence amidst these moments. Katie McGinty carries such presence in who she is and how she works. I hope you will share with your colleagues what we believe is a rather rare expression of broad support here from a community not traditionally active in environmental partisanship. Struggle as you must over policy. But confirm Katie McGinty. She's earned it, and will serve all of you, all of us, and her nation. Sincerely, Joon B. Campbelle (The Rev. Dr.) Joan Brown Campbell I am writing to express my support for the confirmation of Kathleen McGinty as chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. I was recently Senior Project Manager for the Fieldstone Company in San Diego, California. Fieldstone is one of the largest homebuilding companies in Southern California. In my capacity, I was in charge of our La Costa project which represented a $180 million land investment scheduled for a 3500 home buildout over 15 years. This property is also home to several sensitive plant and animal species. In June of this year, we signed the first multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan with local, state and federal officials under the newly adopted State Natural Community Conservation Program (NCCP). This agreement will provide protection for up to 63 species of plants and animals while allowing development to proceed. Without the leadership of CEQ the agreement could not have been possible. Ms McGinty's innovative approach to environmental policy clearly provided the direction necessary to bring diverse agencies and interests to a workable consensus. While much work remains to be done region-wide, I believe we have begun to work from a firm foundation. It is my hope that bipartisan support can be found to allow Ms McGinty's innovative leadership to remain. Your consideration is appreciated. JJB/mka Sincerely, John J. Barone 5465 Morehouse Drive, Suite 250 San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 546-8081 The Senate will soon be considering the confirmation of Kathleen McGinty as Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Ms. McGinty is well qualified for the position and I fully support her appointment. As a member of the President's Council on Sustainable Development I have had an opportunity to work with Ms. McGinty. She understands the necessity of maintaining high environmental standards and at the same time the need for a growing economy. She has worked to find solutions to economic development - environmental problems by setting up collaborative processees by which the stakeholders find creative solutions which are acceptable to both the developers and the environmentalists. At the request of President Clinton she helped craft the agreement for San Francisco Bay and the Delta that protects the health of the environment as well as the stability of the state's water supply. Ms. McGinty has also worked to reduce paper work requirements on environmental compliance issues, expand the use of market mechanisms to find win - win" solutions to problems and to develop partnerships with industry and the states. Ms. McGinty brings all the skills and insights necessary to prepare our Nation for the next century in the critical areas of environmental quality and a growing economy so that future Americans can lead healthy lives in a pleasant environment which provides meaningful jobs for all citizens. THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA 598 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022 FAX (212) 753-0134 September 26, 1995 The Honorable Max Baucus Senate Environment and Public Works Committee United States Senate, SH-511 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Baucus, On behalf of the Conservation and National Affairs Committees of The Garden Club of America. I would like to support the nomination of Kathleen McGinty for Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). We believe that her philosophies on environmental and economic policy support our mission to restore, improve and protect the quality of the environment through programs and actions in the fields of conservation, civic improvement and education. We became acquainted with Ms. McGinty in her position as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office on Environmental Policy. In that capacity, she served as the President's Senior Environmental Policy Advisor while establishing the Office on Environmental Policy which, for the first time, provided a mechanism to bring environmental and economic policy together. This past February we were delighted to have Ms. McGinty deliver the Keynote Address to our Annual Legislative Meeting on Capitol Hill, and we were extremely impressed with her knowledge of environmental issues and programs. Throughout the year, she has brought a thoughtful, balanced approach to the challenges that come before her as the Acting Chair of CEQ. Ms. McGinty has excellent credentials for this position. A lawyer, she also has a background in science and technology. Before her service in the Clinton Administration, Ms. McGinty serves as then-Senator Albert Gore's Senior Legislative Assistant for Energy and Environmental Policy. In this capacity, Ms. McGinty also served as Congressional Staff Coordinator for the Senate delegation to the Untied Nation's Conference on Environment and Development held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, as well as an Official Member of the U.S. Delegation to Negotiations on the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Antarctic Protocol. We feel confident that Ms. McGinty will continue to do an excellent job as Chairman of CEQ and, therefore, urge you to formally recommend approval of her nomination to the full Senate. Thank for your consideration. you |