House Republicans Cut EPA in Omnibus Package -- Putting America’s Children at Risk

The U.S. House of Representatives voted today mainly along party lines (211-198) for an Environmental Protection Agency budget which would leave large parts of the Agency unfunded and woefully understaffed. The Interior and Environment Appropriations bill passed today also includes anti-environmental policy riders that make it more difficult for EPA to do its job.

“There are real world consequences to today’s vote – more asthma attacks for our kids, less protection for clean air and water, and more health problems in our communities,” said Elizabeth Thompson, president of EDF Action.

The funding levels in this bill are $528 million lower than the EPA budget approved by Congress just a few months ago for FY 2017, which are already at dangerously low levels.

“These cuts take America decades backward in protecting the environment. By setting funding levels at their lowest since the 1980’s, this bill risks reversing generations of progress in providing clean air, cleaner water, and healthier communities for America’s families,” said Thompson.

Today’s bill includes significant cuts to state and tribal assistance grants, science and technology programs and research, efforts to address climate change, and to assist communities facing environmental injustice. It also enables severe staff reductions.  

“In an era where the Administration is turning its back on protecting our children, we expect Congress to step in and protect public health. Instead this is a big step in a quest to hollow out the EPA from the inside,” said Thompson. “We urge the U.S. Senate to maintain EPA funding at least at the levels of the FY 2017 budget.”

The House of Representatives also voted to give polluters a free pass at the expense of American families and communities by adding a parade of horribles as amendments. This included amendments to:

•          Prohibit funds to implement the EPA and Bureau of Land Management methane rules
•          Prohibit funds to implement the Social Cost of Carbon

However, a bipartisan group of members defeated an amendment that would have prohibited funds for EPA criminal enforcement as well as an amendment further cutting the enforcement budget.

You can learn more about what’s at stake with EPA cuts on our website.