An Indiana University professor has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Janet McCabe, professor of practice at IU’s McKinney School of Law and former director of IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute, was narrowly confirmed by a vote of 52 to 42, with both of Indiana’s senators voting against her confirmation.

McCabe previously served in the EPA during the Obama administration as acting assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation.

McCabe came under fire from Republicans for her role in authoring the Clean Power Plan, a regulation that placed the first national standards on carbon pollution emitted from power plants.

All Democrats and three Republicans, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), voted in favor of McCabe’s confirmation, but both of Indiana’s Republican senators, Sen. Todd Young and Sen. Mike Braun, voted against.

"I'm honored to be returning to the EPA as deputy administrator and grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Environmental Resilience Institute and to teach the next generation of environmental lawyers at Indiana University these last four years," McCabe told IU. "The same challenges faced by farmers, businesses and communities in Indiana are also felt across the country. In my new role, I'll take with me the valuable lessons I've learned building a broad, bipartisan coalition to protect Indiana's economy and Hoosiers' health from the risks of environmental change. Just like in Indiana, these issues are critical to the long-term prosperity of the nation."

McCabe’s nomination had the support of many environmental organizations, including the Midwest’s Environmental Law & Policy Center, of which McCabe was a member.

“We look forward to working together with Janet McCabe in her new EPA leadership role to help accelerate climate change solutions, and protect clean air, clean water for all and keep communities safe from toxics for all Americans,” said ELPC executive director Howard A. Learner in a written statement.