FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019
Contact:
Gary Morton
(267) 344-6916
[email protected]
Nicole Cantello
[email protected]
EPA Union Applauds House Appropriations Subcommittee’s rejection of Trump’s Proposed EPA Budget Cuts
Categories:
EPA
Proposed cuts to EPA’s fiscal 2020 budget would damage environment, local economies
PHILADELPHIA – On May 15, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies approved its fiscal year 2020 funding bill, which would set next year’s budget for the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. As head of the union representing 8,000 EPA employees nationwide, American Federation of Government Employees Council 238 President Gary Morton issued the following statement:
“AFGE Council 238 applauds the Appropriations Subcommittee’s rejection of deep budget cuts proposed by President Trump as part of an all-out assault on the Environmental Protection Agency. By providing $9.52 billion for the EPA – $672 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $3.42 billion above the president’s budget request – the subcommittee has demonstrated its continued deep commitment to EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.
“The funding measure shows lawmakers have paid close attention to President Trump’s attempts to cripple the EPA over the past two years. It includes increases above fiscal year 2019 enacted levels for staffing, enforcement, and science. It restores funding for geographic initiatives.
“We urge all lawmakers in Washington to support fully funding EPA. We are grateful to the United for Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force co-chairs -- Reps. A. Donald McEachin of Virginia, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, and Nanette Diaz Barragán of California -- and over 50 House co-signers who advocated for an increase in EPA funding by at least 10% over fiscal year 2019 enacted levels as part of an overdue multi-year effort to re-build EPA’s budget. We call on all in Congress to reject Trump’s EPA funding cuts, as the Appropriations Subcommittee did, so that EPA may step up its protection of human health and the environment.”
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