EDF Action Launches Million Dollar Campaign to Highlight EPA’s Work to Protect Children’s Health

(Washington D.C - July 17, 2017) A new TV, radio, and online ad campaign launching today highlights the work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect clean air, clean water, and children’s health – and asks Congress to defend the agency from destructive budget cuts.

The Trump administration has proposed cutting EPA’s budget by about one-third, more than any other federal agency.

The ads are part of a million dollar campaign by EDF Action, the advocacy partner of Environmental Defense Fund. They will start running today (July 17^th) and run through September 10^th in the districts of: Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-2), Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-6), Rep. Jason Lewis (MN-2), Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA-10), Rep. David Valadao (CA-21), Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO- 2), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Rep. Thomas Rooney (FL-17), and Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-42). The ads will also air in Washington D.C.

You can see the ads here:

“EPA’s budget is already near its lowest level in 40 years, in real dollars. These new cuts would mean more toxic mercury, smog, and carbon pollution in our air and water,” said Elizabeth Thompson, president of EDF Action. “The result will be more asthma attacks for our kids and more health problems for our elderly parents. We’re calling on Members of Congress to stand up for our health and not let the worst polluters off the hook.”

A few examples of damage if Congress supports the Trump EPA cuts:

• The cleanup of toxic waste sites will be slowed. There are more than 1,300 toxic Superfund waste sites and 450,000 brownfield hazardous sites across America, causing untold damage to local communities, such as toxins in their drinking water, cancer hotspots and stalled economic development. President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt want to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from this program, dramatically slowing cleanup at these sites
• Polluters let off the hook. The Administration is proposing serious cuts to the office that enforces our clean air and water laws. That, with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s record as Attorney General of Oklahoma – and his long, cozy relationship with companies that have supported his political career —suggest he’ll go easy on polluters
• Harmful air pollution will increase. Administrator Pruitt has expressed hostility to rules limiting mercury, acid gas, carbon, and smog pollution and has proposed deep cuts to clean air program funding. That will hobble the EPA’s ability to carry out its duties under the Clean Air Act
• Toxic lead protection programs weakened. There is no “safe” level of lead – a known neurotoxin that causes brain damage in developing children. Under previous administrations, EPA has made great strides reducing lead exposure from paints, gasoline, pipes, and soil, but more than half a million American kids still have elevated lead levels in their blood.