Urge Congress: Protect EPA funding for clean water and public health

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a key role in ensuring clean water, enforcing pollution laws, and responding to environmental hazards. The proposed 65% budget cut would significantly reduce these capabilities, impacting communities across the country.

For New York alone, this could mean a $430 million reduction in clean water grants, limiting resources for upgrading aging water infrastructure, improving wastewater treatment, and addressing harmful contaminants. Nationally, these cuts could reduce funding for drinking water safety, lead pipe replacement, and pollution control. Staffing reductions at EPA’s regional office could impact 492 enforcement officers, 150 toxic cleanup experts, and 75 drinking water specialists, making it harder to monitor pollution and respond to environmental concerns.

Additionally, ~10% of the EPA’s workforce are veterans. These proposed cuts could lead to job losses among those who have dedicated their lives to serving the country in uniform and now serve to protect public health and the environment.

We all agree that the government should be efficient and responsible, and that preventing waste, fraud, and abuse is important. However, broad budget cuts may weaken EPA’s ability to prevent pollution and protect drinking water–particularly along the Hudson River. While we may not always agree with every EPA decision, ensuring clean water and a safe environment requires resources and personnel.

It is important to maintain strong federal environmental protections that safeguard public health and natural resources. Ask Congress to oppose these cuts and support full funding for the EPA.

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Recipients

The President Donald J. Trump
Your Senators
Your Representative
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator

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Message

Support full funding for the EPA

Dear [Decision Maker],

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I urge you to oppose the proposed 65% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency's budget, as it could significantly impact clean water programs, pollution enforcement, and toxic waste cleanup. These reductions may result in the loss of $430 million in clean water funding for New York, the elimination of 492 regional enforcement positions, and fewer resources for monitoring drinking water safety and responding to environmental hazards.

Additionally, 10% of the EPA's workforce are veterans. These proposed cuts could lead to job losses among those who have dedicated their careers to protecting public health and the environment.

While we all support efficiency in government, broad reductions to EPA's budget could lead to preventable pollution events and weaken critical environmental protections. Ensuring clean water and a healthy environment requires dedicated personnel and adequate resources.

I urge you to oppose these budget cuts and support full funding for the EPA to ensure clean water, environmental enforcement, and public health protections. Please work to maintain the essential services the EPA provides to our communities.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]