House Passes Spending Measure That Puts American Families At Risk

WASHINGTON D.C.-- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives  passed an omnibus bill to address funding the government through next year.  Among the many ways it puts American families and their well-being at risk, the deal slashes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior. 

In response, Sierra Club’s Associate Legislative Director Kirin Kennedy released the following statement:

“Once again, House Republicans have let American families down by failing to pass a spending measure that isn’t laden with giveaways to corporate polluters and attacks on clean air and public health.

“Slashing critical budgets for the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Interior will have devastating consequences for clean air, clean water, public lands, and public health, all while effectively curtailing clean energy sector growth and cutting jobs. Rates of asthma attacks and heart attacks will spike, premature deaths related to pollution will increase, and extreme weather fueled by climate change will accelerate.

“Now, we look to the Senate to do what is right by Americans and come up with a clean spending bill that protects our health, our air and water, and public lands. The American people overwhelmingly support these environmental and public health priorities. We cannot afford to continue to unravel the five decades of progress we have made making our nation a cleaner, safer and healthier place with toxic provisions tacked onto essential legislation.”