WATCH: Zeldin says access to clean drinking water is ‘extremely important’ in confirmation hearing

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., questioned Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for director of the Environmental Protection Agency, in a confirmation hearing Thursday held by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Schiff stressed a desire to work with Zeldin to make sure that the people of California and around the U.S. have access to good, clean drinking water.

Zeldin said the issue is “extremely important” and that no American should feel like they are living in a “third world country” or “war-torn country” because of their access to water.

“Every American should be able to access clean water, potable water,” he said. “That's something that I look forward to doing my part, if confirmed, to be able to work with you and everyone on the committee to ensure that we are delivering as a nation.”

Zeldin is a former congressman from New York. He left Congress in January 2023 and was among the Republicans in the House of Representatives who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. In his time in the House, he did not serve on committees that oversaw environmental policy.

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