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In the News

Sep 07, 2017
Democratic House of Representatives members Gerry Connolly, Paul Tonko, and Doris Matsui said in a statement: “the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is a dire reminder of how important it is to have a fully staffed and funded EPA that can respond quickly to protect communities after disasters, whether from accidental releases of dangerous pollutants at chemical plants or flooding of toxic Superfund sites.”

Sep 07, 2017
Members of Congress are criticizing efforts by the Trump administration and House Republicans to drastically reduce the size of the EPA, especially in light of recent environmental disasters, including flooding from Hurricane Harvey. H.R. 3354, an omnibus House spending bill, would fund the EPA at $528 million less than the fiscal 2017 enacted level. “We strongly oppose the harmful cuts proposed to the EPA in this bill,” Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Doris Matsui (D-CA), co-chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, said in a statement Thursday. “The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is a dire reminder of how important it is to have a fully staffed and funded EPA that can respond quickly to protect communities after disasters, whether from accidental releases of dangerous pollutants at chemical plants or flooding of toxic Superfund sites.”

Aug 18, 2017
More than 100 members of the House today called on U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to think twice before repealing the Clean Water Rule. Signed by 102 lawmakers, the letter was led by members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.

Apr 13, 2017
At this very moment, millions of individuals across Somalia, Nigeria, and the South Sudan are suffering from drought and famine. In recent years, the Philippines, a country in which the United States has invested heavily, has been devastated by typhoons and natural disasters. And not too long ago, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc along the Atlantic coast. These events not only present environmental and humanitarian risks, they also create national security threats. While it may be difficult to attribute a specific event to climate change, it is not difficult to show carbon and methane pollution is causing a pattern of disruptions across the world. To ensure a strong defense and a prosperous future, it is absolutely critical that the United States address the connections between climate change and national security.

Apr 13, 2017
If you want a succinct summation of the veracity and urgency posed by today’s environmental challenges, don’t listen to the politicians. Listen to Katherine, a mother of two from Acton: “Environmental pollution is real and in our backyards,” she wrote to me. Science backs her up, in particular when it comes to climate change. The vast majority of the scientific community tells us that threat is real, is caused by human activity, and could have devastating effects all over the world for this and future generations.

Apr 13, 2017
About an hour and a half into the hearing, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a second-term congressman representing northern Virginia, had an opportunity to question the witnesses. Addressing the panel broadly, Beyer first praised the legacy of the EPA, and admonished the Republican side of the committee for disputing climate science with articles from Breitbart and the Daily Mail. “The Science Committee’s contribution now is like that of Emperor Nero, fiddling while Rome burned down around him,” Beyer said. “This is irresponsible and dangerous. It is not leadership, and it will not make the EPA, or America, great.”

Apr 13, 2017
An environmental group is suing the Trump administration, saying its proposed wall along the southern border violates environmental law. The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit along with SEEC Member Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), saying the Department of Homeland Security is obligated to draft a new environmental review to examine the impacts of the wall and other border enforcement activities.

Apr 13, 2017
On the seventh anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, congressional Democrats reintroduced legislation aimed at better protecting the health and safety of coal miners and reforming the program that provides benefits to victims of black lung disease. The bills were introduced in the Senate by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., and in the House of Representatives by SEEC Member Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., and and SEEC Vice-Chair Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa.

Apr 13, 2017
The Trump administration is proposing to eliminate two Environmental Protection Agency programs that reduce children’s exposure to lead-based paint, a toxin that can cause permanent brain damage and is particularly prevalent in Maine because of its older housing. SEEC Vice-Chair Rep. Chellie Pingree was more blunt. “I honestly don’t know how something like these cuts even ends up on the table,” she said via email. “In this day and age, no child should have to grow up with exposure to lead. When did that become a matter of debate?” Cutting the funds, she said, would put more strain on the states and result in fewer children having “a safe place to grow up in future.”

Apr 13, 2017
SEEC Member Rep. Jim Himes has taken on the role of promoting Darwinism in the House of Representatives. "I represent one of the most educated districts in the country. And so, I think my constituents expect this of me," said Himes, who took over proposing the perennial longshot legislation commemorating the birth date of Charles Darwin.