The retirement of Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., will leave a vacancy on the committee where he shepherded laws to address greenhouse gas emissions.
Carper, 76, announced on Monday that he would not seek a fifth term but instead hoped to focus on what he could accomplish during his final 20 months in office.
Carper’s departure would create a vacancy for the top Democratic slot on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Next in line for Carper’s committee seat would be Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., assuming Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wants to retain his chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee if he runs and wins reelection next year.
