Anne Gorsuch Burford resigned as director of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1983, amid allegations of mismanagement, political manipulation and possible conflicts of interest regarding EPA's hazardous waste cleanup program. During her first two years on the job, enforcement at EPA declined more than 50%. The House cited her in contempt of Congress for refusing, on the President's orders, to turn over EPA documents which had been subpoenaed. Nevertheless, on July 30, 1984, President Reagan appointed Burford to chair the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere (NACOA). Buford has no background in this area whatsoever.

Although the President's appointment did not require Congressional approval, Congressman D'Amours offered a Resolution on the House floor urging the President to withdraw the appointment. The Resolution was adopted 363-51; July 31, 1984. YES is the pro-environmental vote. (D'Amours' motion to suspend the rules and adopt H. Res. 555.) Although both House and Senate passed resolutions urging Reagan to drop the appointment, he ignored them. Burford herself resigned as chair the day before she was sworn in.