Betty McCollum: EPA Budget Cuts Threaten National Security and Public Health

Concerns with the Appropriations Bill

• 💡 The congresswoman expresses concerns with the current appropriations bill, despite acknowledging the difficult choices made in its creation.
• ✅ She commends the bipartisan support for upholding tribal trust and treaty responsibilities and the inclusion of advanced appropriations for the Indian Health Service.

Disinvestment in Public Health and EPA

• 📉 The bill is criticized for disinvesting in life-saving public health work at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• 💧 The EPA is highlighted for protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil for nourishment.
• 🆘 The agency's role in cleaning up after environmental emergencies, both man-made and natural (like industrial pollution, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods), is emphasized.

Impact of Shutting Down Research and Development

• 🔬 The unilateral action to shutter the Office of Research and Development is seen as a significant loss of scientific expertise.
• 📊 These scientists are crucial for understanding the health impacts of pollutants, developing water quality standards, and analyzing the effects of climate change.
• ⚠️ Constituents rely heavily on this research, especially concerning pollutants and their impact on health.

Climate Change as a National Security Threat

• 🌡️ Climate change is directly linked to changing weather patterns, including more extreme droughts, floods, and intensified storms.
• 🚢 Sea level rise, thawing permafrost, and severe storms are identified as increasing costs to the national security and military.
• 🛡️ Inadequately funding the EPA and hindering its ability to address climate change will negatively impact the country's response to these threats.

Cuts to Cultural and Educational Institutions

• 🏛️ Deep cuts to the Park Service, Smithsonian museums, and the Endowment for the Arts and Humanities are also a point of concern.
• 📚 These institutions are viewed as investments in telling the nation's story, providing civic lessons, and fostering a free and transparent exchange of ideas.