WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) yesterday voted to support four of President Trump’s nominees in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“Idaho’s leadership in nuclear energy and our vast natural resources are critical to the state’s economy and way of life,” said Risch. “I’m proud to support President Trump’s nominees, who I am confident will prioritize Idaho’s resources and execute the president’s America First agenda.”

Risch voted to advance the following nominees to the Department of Interior and Department of Energy:

Andrea Travnicek to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. Travnicek will oversee the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation, which manages federal dams, powerplants, and other facilities across Idaho for irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and recreation.

Leslie Beyer to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Mineral Management. Beyer will oversee four departmental agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, which manages nearly 12 million acres of public lands in Idaho for multiple use, including grazing, mining, timber production, and recreation.

Theodore Garrish to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy. Garrish will oversee the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), which advances nuclear energy research, technology, and facilities. NE supports and oversees the Idaho National Laboratory, DOE’s nuclear research laboratory.  

Tristan Abbey to be the Administrator of Energy Information Administration, responsible for providing independent and impartial energy information.