February 03, 2004
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today declared the Bush FY 05 Budget a “disaster.” If Bush has his way, for the first time since 1981, environmental programs will be cut for the second consecutive year. According to the Bush budget, the Natural Resources and Environmental programs in the budget will be cut from $32.2 billion to $30.3 billion, a six percent reduction. The Environmental Protection Agency will suffer a $606 million (7.2%) reduction.
These cuts are being made in an effort to spend money for what the President deems to be more important priorities. The wealthiest Americans will receive another $1.1 trillion in tax cuts over the next 10 years, and the defense budget will increase to $420.7 billion (7.9% increase) – even without any funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“This budget represents a natural disaster for our efforts to clean up and protect our environment and therefore for our efforts to safeguard human health,” said Lee. “This budget displays the sort of nearsightedness of an Administration that refuses, against all evidence, to believe that global warming exists.”
The President’s budget dramatically cuts spending for clean water funding by $335 million (78%). Although last year’s budget for clean water funded ultimately reached $429 million after the environmental community and Members of Congress grew outraged at a similar 79% cut in clean water funding, nevertheless Bush launched the same assault again with his proposal of $94 million.
The budget also once again revisits the controversial issue of drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The budget calls on the Department of Interior to conduct oil and gas exploration and development in this critical area. Further, the budget presumes that the first sale of ANWR’s oil and gas leases would be scheduled for 2006.
“These actions are morally reprehensible. The Bush Budget ought to come with its own environmental impact statement because its consequences will be long-lasting and devastating,” said Lee. “We cannot let the Halliburtons of the world determine what should be our policy for preserving the earth and our own health. I am outraged by these provisions.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls Bush Environment Budget a “Natural Disaster”
Defense Budget, Deficit, and Tax Breaks for the Wealthy Soar to Record Levels
Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today declared the Bush FY 05 Budget a “disaster.” If Bush has his way, for the first time since 1981, environmental programs will be cut for the second consecutive year. According to the Bush budget, the Natural Resources and Environmental programs in the budget will be cut from $32.2 billion to $30.3 billion, a six percent reduction. The Environmental Protection Agency will suffer a $606 million (7.2%) reduction.
These cuts are being made in an effort to spend money for what the President deems to be more important priorities. The wealthiest Americans will receive another $1.1 trillion in tax cuts over the next 10 years, and the defense budget will increase to $420.7 billion (7.9% increase) – even without any funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“This budget represents a natural disaster for our efforts to clean up and protect our environment and therefore for our efforts to safeguard human health,” said Lee. “This budget displays the sort of nearsightedness of an Administration that refuses, against all evidence, to believe that global warming exists.”
The President’s budget dramatically cuts spending for clean water funding by $335 million (78%). Although last year’s budget for clean water funded ultimately reached $429 million after the environmental community and Members of Congress grew outraged at a similar 79% cut in clean water funding, nevertheless Bush launched the same assault again with his proposal of $94 million.
The budget also once again revisits the controversial issue of drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The budget calls on the Department of Interior to conduct oil and gas exploration and development in this critical area. Further, the budget presumes that the first sale of ANWR’s oil and gas leases would be scheduled for 2006.
“These actions are morally reprehensible. The Bush Budget ought to come with its own environmental impact statement because its consequences will be long-lasting and devastating,” said Lee. “We cannot let the Halliburtons of the world determine what should be our policy for preserving the earth and our own health. I am outraged by these provisions.”
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