Pete McCloskey, who co-chaired the original Earth Day celebration in 1970, said there’s little to celebrate this year as President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress set out to slash budgets for environmental agencies and undermine laws that protect water, air and wildlife.
“This will be a black day.
“In 1970, it was joyous as millions of people turned out against air pollution, water pollution.” The first Earth Day is credited with galvanizing public support behind sweeping changes to how the government managed natural resources.
Months later, Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency.
McCloskey co-authored the Endangered Species Act in 1973.
These hard-fought gains are in jeopardy, McCloskey told HuffPost.
The White House’s budget proposal aims to reduce the EPA’s spending by 25 percent, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget would shrivel by 17 percent.
While many federal agencies would get trimmed under Trump’s budget proposal, there would be spending increases for defense, homeland security, transportation and veterans affairs.
During an Earth Day event organized by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (D) on Thursday, McCloskey made similar comments.
In a statement, he urged voters to defeat California Republicans like Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader, in next year’s elections and vote for candidates favoring conservation and climate change policies.