Senators of both parties on Thursday morning hailed President Trump’s nominee to be his first science director, Kelvin Droegemeier, touting him has a strong advocate for climate science.

“There is no question to your qualifications,” Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said at Droegemeier’s confirmation hearing before the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “Your work on extreme weather is very important to the country. If confirmed, you have a tough task ahead of you, but a lot of us on the committee are going to be happy you are the White House science adviser.”

Trump had left the science and technology adviser position vacant for 19 months before nominating Droegemeier, providing fodder to critics who say his administration is downplaying science, especially as it relates to climate change.

For example, his EPA is pursuing a “secret science” policy that scientists fear would restrict the agency's use of science in the analysis it uses for rulemaking. Administration officials have also refused to attribute worsening wildfires in the West to climate change, despite scientists saying otherwise.

Droegemeier, a Republican, said that unbiased science is crucial for policymaking.

“Science needs to be conducted free from political interference,” Droegemeier said Thursday. “The science has to lead the way in telling us what the facts are."

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., asked if Droegemeier would dedicate himself to addressing climate change.

"I am very excited to work on that with you and see what we can do to move forward," Droegemeier replied, saying he would look at ways to rebuild communities more resiliently after extreme weather events to guard against climate change.

Droegemeier has bipartisan credentials to take the helm of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a White House agency that helps set policy on issues involving innovations in medical research, self-driving cars, artificial intelligence -- and climate change. Supporters say he accepts the established science of climate change.

A practicing scientist, Droegemeier is a research meteorologist at the University of Oklahoma.

“Science has no politics. Science is just science,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said Thursday.

“He knows his stuff he will be doing a great job,” Lankford added of Droegemeier. “There is no one in America better qualified for this position.”

Droegemeier served two six-year terms on the National Science Board, under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

John Holdren, who served as science adviser under Obama, has applauded Droegemeier’s nomination, telling Science Magazine that the nominee would be “energetic in defending the R&D budget and climate change research in particular.”

Droegemeier in his former roles has criticized efforts by congressional Republicans to cut funding for climate research.