Lansing -- The Trump administration today released its Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal. It contains historic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and programs that Michigan relies on to protect water and health. The budget proposes reducing $28 million in water infrastructure funding for Michigan from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
Mary Brady- Enerson, Clean Water Action’s Michigan Director, released the following response:
“This is a devastating budget for Michigan. The state relies on the State Revolving Funds to pay for needed improvements to our water infrastructure and to ensure that all Michiganders can access clean water. If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that we must increase, not cut funding for our water infrastructure.
The President is hoping that we fall for a bit of misdirection in this budget -- this year the administration resisted the urge to propose defunding restoration programs for the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, no amount of funding can make up for the Administration’s Dirty Water Agenda. The recently finalized Dirty Water Rule removed Clean Water Act protections for the small streams and wetlands that are vital to the health of our Great Lakes.
The Trump administration is putting water and health across Michigan in jeopardy. We’re calling on our Congressional delegation to reject this budget out of hand and join us in the fight against Trump’s dangerous dirty water agenda.”
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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Clean Water Action is Michigan’s largest grassroots conservation group with over 131,000 members across the state. Through direct advocacy and education we organize Michigan residents to protect the Great Lakes and our water resources. Learn more at www.cleanwateraction.org/mi