EPA

Today, I was honored to testify at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Hearing on EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Proposal: Failing to Protect Public Health.

On June 7th, Clean Water Action’s National Field Canvass delivered 390 postcards and over 800 letters to the Environmental Protection Agency from Clean Water Action members across the country in opposition to the Administration’s proposed loophole to the Clean Water Act.

On April 10th, Trump issued an Executive Order that limits states’ ability to protect their own water resources from harmful pipelines and other dirty energy projects.

The Great Lakes are national treasures.

Not just for the millions of tourists that visit the scenic shores each year, but for the diverse ecosystem that lives beneath the surface and yes, the millions of people, like you that depend on the Great Lakes for fresh water.

The Great Lakes contain 20% of the Earth's fresh surface water which makes them vital to the people, communities, wildlife, and economy of the eight-state Great Lakes region.

My first job out of college in 1965 was with the Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control, Public Health Service, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. I remember the early days when "the solution to pollution was dilution."

EPA is already underfunded, suffering from years of budget cuts despite its crucial role in protecting all of us. Further reducing EPA’s budget would severely limit its ability to protect our water, air and climate. The proposal calls for slashing grants to states to carry out their environmental and health protection programs.

Yesterday, EPA’s Office of Water held a listening session on what Scott Pruitt and Donald Trump call, “the regulatory burden.” We call it public protections for our air, water, and health. I had the opportunity to testify. My comments are below. If you want to weigh in, you can take action here, and be sure to personalize the message you send.

Update, June 19, 2017: Jeff Holmstead is now the leading contender for the second highest position at EPA.

It’s a great day when drinking water is front and center and when we’re focusing on controlling upstream threats, increasing investment and addressing those suffering from extreme drinking water crisis like what has happened in Flint, Michigan. We should be putting drinking water first every day.

Stormwater runoff is one of the leading contributors to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. After big storms, the water carries whatever is on the ground and in the streets into our waterways. Impervious surfaces, such as the roads and pavement that cover densely populated areas, don’t allow rain to seep into the ground, causing more polluted stormwater to enter the Bay.