Friday, March 23, 2018

EANY: Congress Rejects Trump’s EPA Budget Cuts

New York – Today, Congress approved the Omnibus spending bill that maintains funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 2017 levels ($8 billion). In addition, the bill includes a $700 million increase for water infrastructure projects. By agreeing to a fully-funded EPA, Congressional leaders not only rejected President Trump proposal, but also earlier versions from Senate and House leaders.
 
Members of the New York Campaign to Save The EPA celebrated the vote, and thanked members of both the House and Senate for siding with public health and the environment.
 
Comments on the bill:
 
Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY) said, “A chorus of voices supporting the EPA, an agency charged with protecting our air, and water, has silenced the anti-environmental, anti-public health cacophony radiating from Washington. Our President has shown us that he cares very little for environmental protections. We applaud the staunch defenders of our health and safety in the House and Senate, including all the partners and the thousands of New Yorkers who joined the fight to the Save the EPA.  Only by standing together could we have beaten back the egregious, dangerous and reckless proposed cuts coming from the Trump Administration.”
 
Eric Weltman, a Brooklyn-based senior organizer with Food & Water Watch said, “President Trump’s cruel assault on the EPA budget would have put the lives of New Yorkers at risk. Thanks to leaders like Senator Schumer, the agency that protects clean air and water for families across the state has been spared from Trump’s budget axe. After hearing from thousands of his constituents, Senator Schumer pledged to hold the line against any cuts to the EPA budget. We are grateful for his leadership.”
 
Jeremy Cherson, Riverkeeper advocacy coordinator said, “Today’s budget resolution that preserves the EPA’s budget and staff demonstrates that New Yorkers and Americans have no appetite for President Trump’s misguided proposals to slash the agency. Across New York and the Hudson River Estuary, the EPA plays a critical role in maintaining and improving access to clean water through grants, loans, enforcement, and technical expertise. We know that the fight to save the EPA isn’t over as new threats and riders emerge from Washington almost every day, but we will continue to speak up on behalf of our members and the Hudson River. We are especially grateful to New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Representatives Nita Lowey and Paul Tonko for their advocacy on behalf of the EPA and Hudson River.”

Sandra Meola, communications and outreach director for NY/NJ Baykeeper said, “Since his campaign days, President Trump has been insisting that he will ‘shut down’ the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the protector of public health and our families’ rights to have clean air to breath and water to drink, swim, and fish in. We are encouraged that our elected officials in the House and Senate are defending the public’s right to these clean necessities. We also commend our elected leaders for taking our antiquated, polluting water infrastructure needs seriously by budgeting an additional $700 million for water infrastructure projects.”

Brian Smith, associate executive director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment said, “Time and time again, the public has expressed overwhelming support for a strong, fully funded EPA. Clean air, clean water, and healthy communities are not partisan issues. We are grateful that Congress responded to this public demand with bipartisan support to Save the EPA.”

Source: Environmental Advocates of New York

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