Budget Sequestration Would Hurt Environment, Health, Communities

NRDC, Nearly 3,000 Other Groups Urge Congress to Take Balanced Approach to Budget Cutting

WASHINGTON (July 12, 2012) – The Natural Resources Defense Council and nearly 3,000 other environmental, health, education and public safety groups today delivered a letter to Congress urging lawmakers not to make arbitrary cuts to core non-defense discretionary programs under the budget sequestration agreement.

The following is a statement from NRDC Legislative Affairs Director Scott Slesinger:

"The budget cuts that would occur unless Congress acts this fall would be a disaster that would weaken health and safety protections and the ability to protect national parks and other lands.

“So far, only defense cuts have gotten attention, but the non-defense cuts would be just as destructive, and we are pleased to be part of a broad coalition that is fighting back."

Non-defense discretionary spending represents less than one-fifth of the federal budget and 4.3 percent of our country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to NRDC and other groups.

Under the bipartisan Budget Control Act, non-defense discretionary funding will decline to just 2.8 percent of GDP by 2021 - the lowest level in at least 50 years.

If sequestration is allowed to take effect, cuts to non-defense discretionary programs will be even deeper.

For more information, including the letter from NRDC and other groups to Congress, please see here: http://publichealthfunding.org/index.php/action/campaigns/ndd_united/