Congress Passes Bipartisan Budget Deal

Overnight Congress passed a bipartisan budget caps deal. 

“This deal will provide a welcome boost to overall funding, but it’s critical that some of these additional resources be used to protect our kids from pollution. This means not only funding EPA at its current level – but increasing its funding in proportion to the funding increases provided in today’s budget agreement. With this deal Congress can now restore EPA’s capacity to clean up toxic waste and address climate change, air and water pollution. 

“We also want to express appreciation to all involved in including language that advances Louisiana coastal restoration. And we are pleased that Congress rejected some of the more irresponsible proposals from the Trump Administration. 

“Funding set aside for environmental remediation and modernizing the electric grid in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands represents a significant step for their recovery effort.

“However, we cannot lose sight of the thousands of Dreamers who have already lost their DACA protections. Every day Congress fails to pass legislation is another day that hundreds more will lose their status. Congress needs to pass a permanent solution for Dreamers immediately.”

-       Joe Bonfiglio, president of EDF Action

EDF Action sent a letter in January calling for Congressional leaders to move a comprehensive disaster aid package that ensures that Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are treated with the same urgency that Texas and Florida received after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

The Budget Deal includes hurricane supplemental funding for the following environmental and energy initiatives: 

EPA

-       $6.2 million — Hazardous Substance Superfund

-       $7 million – Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund

-       $50 million – State and Tribal Assistance Grants, hazardous waste financial assistance programs and solid waste management activities 

Energy Programs

-       $13 million for D.O.E. Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability programs

-       $11 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Grants to States and governments affected by Hurricane Maria; including $2 billion to be used for enhanced or improved electrical power systems.