Ranking Member Pingree Statement at Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Environmental Protection Agency Hearing

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of the Interior:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Welcome back to the Subcommittee, Mr. Regan and Mr. Amin and thank you for being here.

The EPA's budget request totals $12.1 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion over the enacted level, to support its mission to protect human health and the environment.

The request proposes substantial increases to address the climate crisis through robust funding for the EPA's science and technology and environmental programs.

It makes important investments in environmental justice programs so that we can continue to address historic underinvestment in underserved and overburdened communities.

The budget request also makes key investments in EPA's workforce. Not only has the EPA's mission expanded tremendously over the last decade but the growing challenges around climate change require more expertise and more staff.

To recognize these growing demands, since fiscal year 2021, this Committee has worked in a bipartisan manner to increase the EPA's budget by nearly $900 million.

These investments have paid off and we increased funding in all areas – areas that both Democrats and Republicans care deeply about.

Historic funding levels for environmental justice, for example, reaches all states and many rural areas and in both conservative and progressive districts.

Historic funding levels for clean air and clean water programs makes sure we all breathe clean air and have access to clean water – no matter where you live and who you vote for.

We cannot and should not reverse the progress we have made to protect human health and the environment. The EPA should be fully resourced and staffed.

Recent rhetoric about cutting federal spending to its fiscal year 2022 levels would have a damaging impact on the EPA.

It would amount to essentially an $800 million cut when you include fixed costs. This is unacceptable and Mr. Regan, I look forward to hearing more about what this cut would mean to the EPA.

I am also interested in hearing more about the new federal standard that would regulate PFAS in drinking water, which will bolster public health across the nation. This is a significant step to deal with these harmful "forever chemicals" and I look forward to hearing more about the progress you've made on this and on PFAS in air and soil.

Thank you to our witnesses for appearing before us today. We appreciate your testimony and answers to our questions.

With that, I yield back to Chairman Simpson.