The Environmental Protection Agency’s budget found defenders in Congress.
For months, ever since The Washington Post reported on leaked documents that showed the White House wanted to cut the EPA’s budget by almost a third, congressional Democrats have sharply criticized the proposal they say would gut environmental programs nationwide.
The EPA’s Superfund program, which is responsible for cleaning up some of the most contaminated waste sites in the United States.
A reporter from CQ Roll Call tweeted Frelinghuysen’s comments: At EPA budget hearing, Rep Frelinghuysen tells EPA’s Pruitt that "power of purse" is in Congress and that he opposes cuts to Superfund — Elvina Nawaguna (@elvina_nawaguna) June 15, 2017 The pattern: Just as senators are inclined to defend the budgets of Energy Department labs that employ residents of their states, House members are inclined to defend EPA programs that they believe benefit their constituents.
— Pruitt used Thursday’s hearing to shoot down a rumor that the EPA wants to close its regional Chicago office.
(The New York Times) — Bloomberg New Energy Finance, an energy research group, says that by 2040 wind and solar will account for 34 percent of all power generated globally.
Perry will also testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on June 21 and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 22 on the department’s budget.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will testify on June 20 before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the department’s budget request.
Zinke will also testify about the department’s budget during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies on June 21 and the House Committee on Natural Resources on June 22 .
The hearing is scheduled for June 28.