House Passes EPA Appropriations Bill Boosting Funds to Protect Health, Climate, and the Environment

(Washington, D.C.) The passage of today’s Interior-Environment Appropriation bill, Minibus #2 (H.R. 3055), will provide the EPA with much needed resources to protect our climate, public health, and future. It calls for a funding increase of over 8 percent to EPA. The bill also strongly demonstrates bipartisan opposition to Trump Administration attacks on our climate, clean air, and environment.

“The House appropriations bill advanced today demonstrates growing bipartisan support for addressing climate change and building a safer and healthier future,” said Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President for Political Affairs.

Along with Moms Clean Air Force, EDF led a community effort to advance an amendment offered by pediatrician Congresswoman Kim Schrier to protect the EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) which garnered the support of 22 House Republicans. Already implemented by the power sector, MATS prevents up to 11,000 fatalities and 130,000 asthma attacks each year by protecting children and communities from exposure to mercury, lead, arsenic and other air toxics emitted from power plants.

The House also soundly defeated amendments that would have prohibited funds for essential public health programs including the EPA’s Methane Rule, Clean Power Plan, Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), its Endangerment Finding, and any research relying on the Social Cost of Carbon.