born december american lawyer served director obama administration previously served administrator clinton administration grew florida graduated working employed washington legislative assistant senators headed turned active departments state government longest serving administrator history staying terms clinton presidency tenure reorganized agency enforcement structure oversaw new programs designed create flexible partnerships industry alternative traditional regulation started successful program deal contaminated lands urban areas took lead administration defending existing environmental laws budgets driving force stringent air quality standards led prolonged political legal battle afterward founding member 2000s decade served number boards directors committees dealing environmental issues director role obama administration informally referred climate efforts getting comprehensive climate energy legislation passed congress came avail assumed prominent role federal government response horizon oil spill left position job abolished shortly following rejoined continued active boards environmental organizations advocate nuclear energy response dangers global warming early life education born miami florida daughter professors social science english respectively younger sisters grew nearby bicycle ride away house gave close connection natural world shaped growing kind environment nature right received degree english graduated degree early career worked general counsel helped revise florida moved washington worked associate director national group lobbying organization active environmental issues met specialist health care issues married lived maryland son born served chief legislative assistant democratic senator florida role worked complex negotiation expand florida ban offshore drilling nearby florida keys served legal counsel field investigation coastal waters research pregnant worked legislative director senator known gore protégé helped prepare amendments clean air act managed gore legislative staff secretary florida secretary headed living nation largest state agency employees budget million believed economic development environmental protection conflict department turned active florida state government shortened time took department review development permits wetlands affected areas manufacturing plants annoyed thought streamlined procedures diminished public review pushed halting construction new hazardous waste plants municipal waste grounds health environment consequences known deal allow build wetlands owned exchange million work disney restore endangered wetlands nearby pleased governor negotiate settlement federal lawsuit damage forcing florida sugar industry bear billion cost head florida largest business trade association described dealing kicks door open throws hand grenade walks shoot left doesn like compromise pretty good job people complaints way nomination confirmation presidential election served transition director vice president elect gore president elect bill_clinton announced choice head december clinton gore criticized administration commitment environmental protection campaign selection described washington_post having mind training attorney legislator soul activist seen indication gore ardent won clinton pro business mindset clinton later wrote known recommended highly gore requested named pick gore clinton helped vice president position administration confirmation hearings united states came pragmatic fears excessively influenced tied gore confirmed unanimous consent united states senate january returned maryland continued work long term goal leave world slightly better place practiced environmentally beneficial practices home avoided problems clinton early female nominees having continued lead active outdoor life skiing years supervised employees billion budget early administration angered employees publicly stating organization lacked management discipline money soon taking office aides including assistant administrator enforcement reorganized awkward inefficient agency enforcement structures single regional offices permitted flexibility reworking enforcement structures led bureaucratic conflicts found criticism sides environmental issues battled objected support repeal clause levels foods announcement impose new industrial licensing drew support clinton elevate cabinet level status failed late gain sufficient congressional support legislative desires seat higher priority clinton health care plan republican_party took control congress elections took lead clinton administration successfully fighting efforts republicans especially house_of_representatives amend clean water act roll environmental regulations able work manner republicans helping craft amendments passage budget cutting negotiations surrounding federal government successfully protected review enforcement powers managed gain million increased spending agency bureaucratic effectiveness illustrated aides characterized talent extreme focus single issue completely certain right initiatives begun clinton administration tenure government program sought realize notion environmental contracts way expanding flexible public private partnerships alternative traditional regulation project designed find common sense cost effective solutions environmental issues individual facilities common sense initiative targeted efforts involving entire industry sectors dealing issues crisis crisis basis project mixed results success stories uncertain legal basis enforcement active participation envisioned ambitious common sense initiative somewhat resembled environmental appearing european countries incorporated viewpoints environmental justice showed limitations areas successes printing metal finishing plating industries concluded march charged violating federal anti lobbying act code material opposing republican sponsored regulatory reform package corporations public interest groups denied accusation saying charge attempt debating possible health environmental administrator started agency successful program program helped facilitate lands contaminated facilities especially urban areas empowering states communities economic development billion public private funds created thousands new jobs enabling hundreds communities bring idle properties productive use second years biggest triumph came convinced clinton support stringent clean air act levels ground level makes fine airborne matter makes decision came months public review proposed new standards divisive environmental debate decade long fierce internal discussion administration opposition president economic advisers echoing strong objections industry groups said costs new standards far benefits exaggerated degree certainty scientific reviews matter eighty environmental health groups grown frustrated administration preference minimal cost actions area pressured vice president gore stand matter remained silent adamant defense favor new standards conducted single private meetings congressional testimony public debate come face silence white_house risk standing administration administration objected modify stance suggested fired ultimately gore lent scenes support favor new regulations key factor clinton final decision favor overall new_york_times termed actions remarkable piece bureaucratic time magazine labelled queen clean air decision announced affect hundreds american cities towns said new standards provide new health million americans including million children change standards survive congressional review support republicans northeast especially new_york senator helped compensate democrats opposed new regulations challenged courts industry groups violation principle eventually landed unanimous ruling case titled largely upheld actions took action air pollution caused motor vehicles issuing standards time included light trucks sport utility vehicles meet standards cars require content gasoline reduced percent years tenure began efforts deal global warming giving authority regulate carbon emissions causing climate change following administration chose use authority policies reversed bush administration tenure reports african american employees racism directed network good old boys dominated agency middle management known reports involved policy specialist filed suit agency court found guilty discrimination awarded said allowed problems persist trying clean october congressional hearing matter emphasized minorities number agency senior rank time administrator unable explain case dismissed cases promoted congressional dissatisfaction situation treatment led passage fear act prohibits federal managers engaging unlawful discrimination retaliation final days clinton administration judge ordered preserve freedom information act documents possibly relevant minute regulation found contempt having preserved files find officials contempt said aware court order computer material removed work related tenure unpopular number industry groups especially utilities heavy manufacturing conservatives congress thought businesses policies battled times opposed clinton tended priority economic growth environmental considerations nonetheless longest serving administrator history agency staying terms clinton presidency type position sees turnover years author text agency assessed administrators lead wrote completely fearless engagement controversial environmental issues clinton later stated accumulated long list important achievements business career clinton administration founding member global strategy group headed secretary state principal assisted businesses organizations challenges operating internationally including environmental regulations climate change clients international assistance founding member principal investment advisory company taught classes study abroad program alma mater named college law married congressman marriage second took place june new_york heads lobbying firm representing clients energy industry collaborated behalf unable persuade senator viewpoint controversy joined board chair term expired joined board organization founded gore joined board inc technology infrastructure environmental markets including carbon gold standard founding board boards left boards late named serve obama administration summer member sustainable world society commission web site listed member january income million million lobbying firm husband principal reported member distribution income plus retirement benefits retained political voice business career describing administration worst environmental administration stated global warming greatest challenge faced presidential election strong supporter bid democratic nomination clinton lost bid campaigned barack_obama states events director november named advisory board december president elect barack_obama named assistant president energy climate change officially known director acted coordinator environmental energy climate transport related matters federal government position informally described climate require senate confirmation participation commission sustainable world society drew criticism republican members congress obama transition team said wrong case power influence relied primarily don independent authority like depend regulation deputy assistant legislative director senator early months obama administration found working cabinet members key administration new united_states standards member american successfully urged incorporation tens dollars energy programs central player negotiation seemingly energy secretary continued stress importance despite obama health care plan legislative priority overall viewed critical liaison white_house september republican members congress expressed concern access president power agencies brief target radio television commentator following resignation october conceded congressional passage cap trade legislation end year unlikely feared absence harm prospects meaningful international agreement december month concern expressed opposition congressional separate energy climate concerns attempts pass kind climate legislation collapsed july lack votes senate appeared behalf administration said obviously disappointed agreement comprehensive legislation key administration team handling visible administration figures issuing public comments horizon oil spill gulf_of_mexico late assessed spill probably biggest environmental disaster faced country said administration prepared worst added think american people need know possible oil leaking august relief wells finished later wrote calm authoritative television presence oil disaster officials stature enhanced aftermath gulf republicans taking house_of_representatives following elections chances climate energy legislation passing embodied administration goals essentially obama conceded obama administration neared year mark number personnel changes underway possibility named position broader responsibilities white_house deputy chief staff come pass instead late january white_house officials disclosed leaving position fairly near future said unexpected decision story time felt honored second chance serve president characterized advocate issues missed member law energy industry lobbying firm said exit good development departure legitimate effort pay careful attention addressing real regulatory obstacles way job creation united_states left white_house march general responsibilities taken second command position late february place house voted eliminate director position altogether overall effort rid obama particular focus representative led effort said let leave funding mid april federal spending agreement possible government funding position eliminated roles similarly vacant obama issued signing statement protesting saying point largely positions question including moved inside return business advocacy rejoined april distinguished senior fellow member organization rejoined firm known merger senior counselor responsibilities included providing strategic services clients areas environmental impact continued speak publicly environmental issues indicated disappointed obama administration september decision drop low altitude levels march elected april joined industry backed group advocates nuclear power means combat climate change role said carbon free source energy table acknowledged looking years earlier probably pro nuclear said think climate change biggest problem world faced simply irresponsible consider nuclear energy solution awards honors april received outstanding mother year award dedication providing children safer world received glamour magazine advocate children award lifetime received vice president gore helping government cost work better received president award leadership toughest action generation safeguard public health threats posed air pollution
Carol Browner