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STATEMENT BY CAROL M. BROWNER, ADMINISTRATOR, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE MARK-UP OF EPA’S BUDGET

Release Date: 09/15/99
Contact Information:

United States Communications, Education,
Environmental Protection And Media Relations
Agency (1703)


Environmental News

As a result of the Senate’s action today regarding EPA’s budget, I am deeply concerned about our future ability to protect the nation’s public health and environment.

The Senate cut $196 million from the programs which form the backbone of our national environmental efforts. A cut of $96 million requested for workforce, contracts and grants would seriously imperil the enforcement of our nation’s environmental laws, the protection of America’s drinking water, the cleaning of our air, and the protection our rivers and lakes. The cuts also jeopardize assistance to states for implementing crucial local environmental programs.

The Senate also provides “earmarks” for $197 million in special “home state” projects that funnel money away from national programs that benefit all Americans. If sustained and added to the earmarks already provided in the House bill, the agency would effectively be subjected to the equivalent cut of about $549 million -- or almost 7.5 % of the total budget -- severely undermining our ability to protect public health and the environment nationwide.

The Senate also provides no funding for the President’s Clean Air Partnership Fund which makes funds available to cities and states nationwide to solve their air pollution problems at the local level. Funds were cut by over half for climate change initiatives, including voluntary programs for lowering energy costs for all Americans. The Senate cut $100 million from the Superfund program that helps protect the one in four Americans who live within a few miles of toxic waste sites.

Finally, the Senate cut all of the funding for completing the construction of a state-of -the-art research center in North Carolina that is already 60 percent completed.


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