CRomnibus first volley in fight against environmental protections

Media Releases

Environment America

Washington, DC — Last night the U.S. House narrowly approved a must-pass spending bill that is expected to clear the Senate today. The measure erodes protections under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, and cuts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by $60 million, resulting in the lowest staffing levels for the agency since 1989, according to the Washington Post. Environment America’s Executive Director, Margie Alt, issued the following statement in response:

“We’re sorely disappointed that polluters and their Congressional allies took aim at our core environmental laws and the EPA itself as part of their must-pass spending bill, resulting in many fewer workers to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. 

“Polluters’ efforts to block the Clean Power Plan and the rule to restore protections to more than half the nation’s streams failed in this round, thanks to tireless advocacy from Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Nita Lowey and others. But this won’t be the last we hear from opponents to environmental progress. This is just the first volley by the polluters and their allies in Congress in the fight against our air, water, and the places we hold dear.”

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