FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2018
Contact: Athena Motavvef, 202-548-4585, athena@weact.org
Washington, DC — Congress has revealed their omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2018. The good news is that it rejects the disastrous cuts proposed by the Trump administration, which would have eliminated key programs and offices that benefit vulnerable communities. The bill also increases funding for the Departments of the Interior and Energy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — all needed parties in the fight against Climate Change. In addition, the bill increases funding for EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Superfund programs, two very important components in the fight for healthy communities. The bad news is that the bill also includes dangerous policy riders that will fund Trump’s border fence and levees and contains no solution for Dreamers.
The following is a statement by Dr. Adrienne Hollis, WE ACT’s Director of Federal Policy:
“WE ACT is pleased to hear there are no cuts to EPA programs, and even increases to some programs that are helpful to our communities. Everybody has the right to live in a healthy community, and our communities should be able to rely on the EPA to do its job — to ensure clean air, water, and soil. However, the fight is not over. While Trump’s border wall is not funded as he requested, we are deeply concerned about the border security measures provided in this bill and what that means for our border communities as this bill provides $1.6 billion for fencing/levees on the border. Moreover, this bill is gravely lacking as it does not create necessary bipartisan support for Dreamers, does not protect Alaska’s air from pollution caused by incinerators and does not recognize the harm caused by biomass. We do, however, see this spending package as a rejection of Trump’s attempt to strip our children and vulnerable populations from the protections we so need, and we are appreciative for those championing the terrible proposed cuts and riders. Please note, any policy that rips families apart and removes necessary protections is not a plan for the people. This administration needs to listen to the public and put people first.”
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in Harlem, NYC and Washington, DC. Visit us at www.weact.org and follow us on Twitter @weact4ej.