WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles.

The Senate confirmed former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in a bipartisan vote, paving the way for the Trump administration’s de-regulatory agenda.

The Senate voted on Wednesday to confirm former Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the government's leading agency on environmental rules and regulations.

Several Democrats voted in favor of Zeldin, a former lawmaker from New York who will oversee an agency tasked with protecting the environment and public health.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to take the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He was confirmed in a 56-42 vote. Zeldin was a surprise pick

"He has been rewarded for his obsequience and will carry out Trump’s mandate against green initiatives and corporate accountability," says the letter writer.

Long Island environmentalists offered mixed reviews of Lee Zeldin's answers during his Senate confirmation hearing for EPA administrator.

WASHINGTON -- Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin denied that he will favor industry over the environment and declared he thinks climate change is real as he faced questions Thursday on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Lee Zeldin said Americans deserve a clean environment “without suffocating the economy” during his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a department likely to play a central role in President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to slash federal regulations and promote oil and gas development.