Baltimore, MD- On Saturday, Maryland LCV and LCV joined Representative Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) for a press conference and paddle around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to talk about the importance of protecting our water. The event also featured flags handpainted by artists Mike Caswell and Chelsea Ritter-Soronen that highlighted the importance of clean water and environmental protections. Their work is part of LCV’s national Protect Our Public Lands campaign, which calls for immediate action to safeguard public lands and waters.

“Actions the Trump administration has taken are undermining that partnership, and with it, jeopardizing the progress made over the last several decades to protect clean, drinkable and accessible water in Maryland and across the country,” said Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble. “The administration’s actions put Marylanders’ health and environment at risk, and we’ll continue to fight for clean water and a healthy planet.”

“I’m proud to join the League of Conservation Voters in Baltimore to highlight Maryland’s incredible natural resources and the attacks upon them from the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans,” said Congressman Johnny Olszewski. “I’m committed to fighting back alongside amazing champions like LCV to ensure that every American has access to clean air and water.”

“Art is an important tool for sparking positive change,” said artists Mike Caswell and Chelsea Ritter-Soronen. “The goal of these flags is to remind people that our rivers and bays are part of the community, and it’s on all of us to defend them,”

“Our families depend on clean water, but President Trump and his allies in Congress are willing to risk our health and safety to benefit polluters’ bottom line,” said LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote. “They are rolling back protections that stop polluters from dumping harmful waste filled with toxic forever chemicals, mercury, arsenic, and more into our water, firing scientists who study water pollution, and dismantling clean water programs our communities rely on. Instead of making our water dirtier, the Trump administration and Congress should work to strengthen clean water safeguards to finally ensure that everyone, no matter race, zip code, or income, has access to clean water.”

Since he took office, President Trump has launched a series of unprecedented attacks on clean water in the U.S. His administration has gutted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), firing career staff and stripping the agency of its ability to enforce clean water regulations, and dismantled the Office of Research and Development. At the same time, the administration has dropped pending cases against polluters, and is preparing to delay and rollback protections against PFAS, a.k.a. “forever chemicals,” in our water. Additionally, they will soon release a proposal to further exclude more streams and wetlands from federal protections.

Poll after poll consistently shows broad, overwhelming bipartisan support for strong protections for our waters, with clean water the top environmental concern of voters. There is nearly universal agreement that protecting the health and safety of our drinking water is important, with 96% of polled voters in agreement and 94% agreeing that protecting U.S. lakes, rivers, and streams is important.  Additionally, 80% of voters support continued federal funding for water infrastructure projects, and 76% view elected officials who support additional investment in infrastructure projects more favorably than those who do not.

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