Protect the Environment!

[gkripke@igc.org]

From: Gawain Kripke <gkripke@foe.org>

 PLEASE SIGN ON TO A LETTER 
 ON FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Dear Environmental Colleague: 

 Attached you will find a sign-on letter urging two key members of
Congress to support environmental protection. Please consider signing
your organization on. The deadline is May 30. 

 The letter is addressed to Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and Sen. 
Christopher Bond (R-MO), the respective Chairmen of the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittees on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies. These
are the critical Congressional Committees that annually decide how much
funding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gets. 

 Last year, these Committees slashed funding for EPA and loaded the
bills with harmful legislative riders that undermine environmental
protection. As you may remember, this blatant attack on the environment
was very unpopular and caused a huge controversy. After months of
struggle, environmentalists were able to preserve most of the funding for
key environmental programs and remove most of the destructive riders. 
Although, the Republican leadership has indicated that it will try to
avoid a similar fight last year, we anticipate that this year's budget
process will again be difficult. So it is important to send a message
early in the process. 

 Please fill out the form which follows the letter and send it David
Hirsch at Friends of the Earth. He can be reached by email at
dbh@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu, fax at (202) 783-0444, and phone at (202) 783-7400
x215. 

 Thanks,

 Gawain Kripke
 Director, Appropriations Project
 FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

**************************************************
BEGIN SIGN-ON LETTER
 
May x, 1996

The Honorable Christopher Bond, Chairman
Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Dirksen 131
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Jerry Lewis, Chairman
Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
House Committee on Appropriations
H-143 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman: 
The undersigned groups, representing millions of Americans, urge you to
fully fund the Administration budget request for the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in the VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1997. We also strongly urge you to
keep this year's bill free of legislative riders that would hinder EPA
from carrying out its mission of environmental and public health
protection. 
Fully Fund Environmental Protection

We respectfully request that the Subcommittee provide the full
Administration request of $7.026 billion for the EPA in fiscal year 1997. 
This funding is a small part of the overall federal budget but very
important to protecting and improving America's environmental quality. 
Full funding for the EPA will determine whether the nation can make
progress on issues such as air quality, clean water, drinking water,
hazardous wastes, toxics, pesticides, and community right-to-know. 

Under Administrator Carol Browner's leadership, the EPA has been adding
flexibility and exploring innovative approaches to EPA's programs. 
Examples include the National Environmental Performance Partnership
program, Project XL, the Brownfields initiative, and the Common Sense
Initiative. While many of these efforts are still being developed we
believe they demonstrate that EPA is seeking new strategies to protect the
environment. 

EPA's research budget is central to the goal of "sound science" for
environmental protection. This funding is crucial to increase
understanding of environmental risks. This improved understanding will,
in turn, mean better, more focused policy and regulation. 

EPA's operating budget is also an important part of making federalism
work in environmental policy. By providing more than $674 million in
grants directly to states and localities, EPA promotes environmental
protection at levels of government closer to the problem. 

While EPA faces many difficulties in carrying out its mission, funding
shortages only make it more difficult for the Agency to appropriately
handle the environmental risks facing communities. Cutting funds for the
EPA does not solve problems, it creates them. 

Keep it Clean

As a general rule, we believe that using funding bills to undermine
existing environmental protections is not appropriate. Making changes to
environmental policy through the appropriations process fundamentally
undermines the legislative process. Usually riders are included without
public hearings, without adequate Congressional debate, and without open
discussion. 

Last year, the appropriations bills included an unprecedented number of
legislative riders. These riders were a large part of the ensuing turmoil
in the appropriations process. The result was two government shut-downs,
uncertainty for businesses, and confusion for government agencies like
EPA. 

Last year's battle over the legislative riders created the impression
that Congress is not committed to environmental protection. The correct
way to improve environmental laws is through an open discourse which
includes the public, the Administration, and the authorizing committees. 
We ask that the mistakes of the last year be avoided, and that no policy
riders be included that restrict environmental protection. 

Although Congress and the Administration are cutting federal spending, we
believe adequate funding for environmental protection should be a high
priority for the Subcommittee. Providing this funding and keeping the
bill free of anti-environmental riders are important ways in which the
Subcommittee can demonstrate its dedication to a clean and healthy
environment. 

Thank you. 

 Sincerely,

Gawain Kripke
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
(Washington, D.C.)

Mary Marra
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
(Washington, D.C.)

Greg Wetstone
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
(Washington, D.C.)

More Signers Needed....

****************************************************************
BEGIN SIGN-ON FORM

SIGN-ON LETTER REPLY FORM

Please respond to David Hirsch at Friends of the Earth by May 31

email at dbh@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu, fax at (202) 783-0444, or phone at (202)
783-7400 x215

Name__________________________________________________________

Contact Name (if different)____________________________________

Organization:_________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________________________________

Location (city/town,state):_____________________________________

Congressional District (if relevant)______________________

Would you like to be added to our email, fax, or mailing list for
information and updates? 
 ______YES _____NO

If yes, please include your email, fax, and/or mailing address: 

 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________

Would you like to receive a final copy of the letter with all of the
sign-ons (if yes, please include your mailing address above): 

 ______YES _____NO