The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed the nomination of Jessica Shirley as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection in a bipartisan vote.
With more than 14 years of service with DEP, Secretary Shirley has served as an Executive Policy Specialist, Policy Director, first-of-its-kind Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, and Executive Deputy Secretary, where she oversaw the influx of federal funding supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and developed groundbreaking executive orders related to PFAS, climate change, energy conservation, and sustainability within Commonwealth operations.
“Secretary Shirley has spent her career serving the people of Pennsylvania and she is committed to delivering timely answers while protecting Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights to clean air and pure water,” said Governor Shapiro. “During her 14 years with the Department, Secretary Shirley has been a driving force in safeguarding our environment while streamlining permitting processes and promoting economic growth. I’m proud that the state Senate clearly recognized her commitment to delivering results by confirming her nomination in a bipartisan vote – and I look forward to her continued leadership of the Department of Environmental Protection.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to head DEP and I am grateful to Governor Shapiro for entrusting me with his nomination and to the Senate for confirming me,” said DEP Secretary Shirley. “I look forward to leading this agency of talented professionals as we continue to serve Pennsylvanians by protecting the air we breathe, the land we live on, and the water we drink from pollution. We will continue to work as partners with people, businesses, and organizations to protect our natural resources and public health.”
