House GOP Poised to Pass Spending Measure Cutting Clean Air, Water and Lands Protections

WASHINGTON – The Republican-led House is expected to pass a FY 2018 omnibus spending bill seeking deep cuts to the budgets for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior and other agencies. The bill also contains scores of policy riders that would strip away many protections, including for our climate, oceans and health.

The following is a statement from Scott Slesinger, legislative director at the Natural Resources Defense Council: 

"House Republicans laid out an ugly vision no American wants: polluted air, filthy water, blindness to climate impacts and public lands plundered by oil and gas drilling. This truly ominous bill would leave America much worse off because it puts corporate special interests first, and our health and the nation’s natural beauty last. The Senate should ignore it, and produce a measured spending bill that keeps the government open without harming Americans’ health, environment and future.”

A recent Slesinger blog on related House action is here: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/scott-slesinger/house-committee-wants-gut-epa 

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.