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Washington, D.C. – In response to Senate passage of the government funding bill, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) issued the following statement from Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo:
“This bill provides crucial funding increases for the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior Department, and other critical environmental agencies that work hard to protect people and the planet. Importantly, passing this omnibus avoids a damaging year-long continuing resolution that would flatline funding for federal agencies charged with protecting clean air, clean water, and public lands. It also allocates critical funding to the city of Jackson to upgrade their water systems that, due to historic underinvestment driven by neglect and environmental racism, have jeopardized the health of Jackson’s families. At the same time, additional funding is still needed to adequately fund environmental agencies to outpace inflation, recover from Trump-era budget cuts, and properly implement President Biden’s all-of-government approach to combating the climate crisis and environmental injustice. Additionally, funding levels for international climate aid are woefully inadequate to meet our global commitments or do our fair share to support under-resourced countries bearing the brunt of climate impacts.
“While not a substitute for comprehensive democracy legislation, we are grateful that Congress is finally reforming the antiquated Electoral Count Act. Congress must also stop allowing spending bills to act as vehicles for harmful unrelated policies, such as those that prohibit listing the greater sage-grouse as an endangered species, and force EPA to disregard science and treat biomass as a carbon-neutral fuel source. ”
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