Committee on Energy and Commerce, Democrats Home Page
Who We Are Schedule What's New
View Printable Version
Outline of the top of the U.S. Capitol Dome

 

NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman


For Immediate Release: February 4, 2008
Contact: Jodi Seth or Alex Haurek 202-225-5735

 

Dingell Reaction to Bush EPA Cuts

Washington, DC – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement in response to proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contained in President Bush’s Fiscal Year 09 (FY09) Budget:

“If nothing else, the President is consistent when it comes to the EPA budget. His assault on important environmental programs continues with the lowest funding request for EPA in eight years. The President’s FY09 Budget request would starve many EPA programs that are vital to protecting the environment and the public health.

“These proposed cuts come at a time when resources for environmental programs are most needed. Superfund cleanups have fallen dramatically under this Administration, yet the remedial cleanup budget is losing millions again this year causing the backlog to grow even larger.

“In coming months, we will be asking EPA Administrator Johnson how he justifies these cuts.”

The President’s FY09 proposals:

  • A $400 million overall cut to the EPA budget;
  • $30 million in cuts to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund, which helps pay to clean up leaking underground storage tanks that pollute drinking water supplies, while the fund has over $3 billion from taxes on the American public; and
  • A $4.5 million cut in the remedial Superfund program, which pays for toxic waste cleanups.

- 30 -

Prepared by the Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515