Regarding media reports of me potentially joining the Environmental Protection Agency

I am very happy to be on the faculty at SMU. Dean Orsak and President Turner have been very supportive of my work as a teacher, researcher, and in community service. This is a fantastic place to work.

I am honored to have the endorsement of several area Democrats for a federal appointment within EPA. If selected, it would be a privilege to serve the country in this capacity.

If selected, my goals would be to have balance, scientific integrity, and transparency in all EPA decision making in this region. Government agencies are at their best when they follow the law in a completely non-partisan manner, and work to improve the lives of everybody in the community without favoritism or hidden agendas.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has outlined a set of national EPA priorities. These priorities address many of the environmental challenges faced by this region, including the development of solar and wind energy resources, improving urban air quality, converting brownfields back to economically productive uses, and developing the water and sanitation infrastructure of low income communities, especially along the border. If selected, it would be a privilege to work as part of her team on these issues.

Administrator Jackson and the White House have a number of high quality people to choose from for this and other positions, and I'm sure whoever is selected will do an outstanding job.