I am pleased to welcome everyone, in particular, our two nominees, Mr. Guzy and Dr. Udall. Mr. Guzy's wife, Sharon, is present, as are his daughter "Zoey" and son "Zander." Senator Lautenberg, a member of our Committee, will introduce Mr. Guzy.
We also welcome Senator McCain, as well as Dr. Udall's brother, Representative Mark Udall of Colorado, who will introduce Dr. Udall.
The Office of General Counsel at EPA provides legal services with respect to Agency programs and activities and provides legal opinions, legal counsel, and litigation support. Mr. Guzy was appointed as Acting General Counsel by EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner on November 17, 1998. Mr. Guzy also served as Counselor to the EPA Administrator and as EPA's Deputy General Counsel. Before joining EPA, Mr. Guzy served as a Senior Attorney with the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division. Mr. Guzy graduated from Cornell Law School, where he also did his undergraduate work.
Dr. Anne Udall is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Udall also has served as the coordinator of Gifted programs at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, and as a Critical Thinking Resource Specialist in the Staff Development Department of the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Udall began her career in education as a teacher for gifted children with learning disabilities in the Tucson Unified School District. Dr. Udall received her Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and an M.A. in special education from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Udall received her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1987.
Dr. Udall was previously confirmed by the Senate as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Foundation on October 6, 1994, for a four year term.
Dr. Udall is the daughter, and Representative Udall is the son, of the late Representative Morris K. Udall, namesake of the Foundation and a man whom I admired and respected, both for his dedicated public service and for his contributions to the environment. I understand that there is a memorial service for your father later in the afternoon and I know that many here in the Senate would like to pay their respects to this fine man. Dr. Udall, I am sure that your father would be very proud of both you and your brother if he could be here with us today.
The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by Congress in 1992 as a non-profit organization committed to educating a new generation of Americans to preserve and protect their national heritage by the recruitment and preparation of individuals skilled in effective environmental public policy conflict resolution.
I am pleased to report that both nominees have impressive backgrounds and are highly-qualified for the positions before them. These positions pose challenges that I am confident Mr. Guzy and Dr. Udall are prepared to face. I look forward to hearing what today's nominees have to say about their backgrounds and what they hope to accomplish, if confirmed.
After we hear the statements of Senator Baucus and other Committee members, Senator Lautenberg will introduce Mr. Guzy, then we will hear his testimony. After we finish with Mr. Guzy, Senator McCain and Representative Udall will introduce Dr. Udall and we will hear her testimony.