[Lekooks] Fwd: RAPID RESPONSE: Defend Vital Climate and EJ Programs

[Gerry Flakas]

-----Original Message-----
From: UU Ministry for Earth <office at uuministryforearth.org>
To: Gerry & Esther Flakas <gerflak at aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Mar 13, 2017 8:03 pm
Subject: RAPID RESPONSE: Defend Vital Climate and EJ Programs



  
  
    
      
        
        
          

        
          
            





        
          
            
              
              
                
                  

 
                  


                  

XXXXXXXX

                  


 
	
		
			
			
 
			
			RAPID RESPONSE: DEFEND VITAL CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS!
			
POSTED ON MARCH 13, 2017 
			
The proposed federal budget includes seriously dangerous budget cuts to environmental justice and climate programs for the EPA, NOAA, and NASA. Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy says the proposal "shows the Trump administration doesn't hold the same American values for clean air, clean water and healthy land as the vast majority of its citizens... Our health comes before the special interests of multibillion-dollar industries." (Source: AP, 3/3/17)
			
Here are some highlights of the budget cuts to the EPA:
			
				
				
The Environmental Justice program budget, which has historically supplied grants to 1,400 frontline communities, would be cut 78%, from $6.7 million to 1.4 million. Mustafa Ali, the director of the program for 24 years, resigned last week, saying “My values and priorities seem to be different than our current leadership and because of that I feel that it's best if I take my talents elsewhere."
				
				
				
Funding for restoration work in Puget Sound, the country's second-largest estuary, would be cut from $28 million to $2 million.
				
				
				
Funding to combat algae blooms, invasive species and other water pollution problems in the Great Lakes, the world's largest group of freshwater lakes, would be cut from $300 million to $10 million.
				
				
				
Funding for restoration in Chesapeake Bay, the country's largest estuary, would be cut from $73 million to $5 million.
				
				
				
The EPA's work studying endocrine disruptor chemicals that can interfere with the body's reproductive and developmental systems would nearly be eliminated, dropping from $7.5 million to $445,000.
				
				
				
$9.5 million of funding for state testing of bacteria levels at beaches around the country would be 100% eliminated.
				
				
				
$8.7 million annually for children's environmental education programs would be cut to $555,000.
				
			
			
(Source & More Info at: OregonLive.com, 3/2/17) 
			
NOAA budget cuts endanger climate science research and data collection, and coastal resilience programs meant to help coastal communities adapt to the increased risk of extreme weather and sea level rise. “NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research would lose $126 million, or 26 percent, of the funds it has under the current budget.” (Source: Washington Post, 3/3/17)
			
COMMIT2RESPOND: Call your congresspersons in the House and Senate, and tell them:
			
			
"As a person of faith, I believe we have an obligation to protect the web of life and the human rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and a livable climate. I support the important work of the EPA, NOAA, and NASA, to help us restore ecosystems, study climate change, and support communities disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution. I am against budget cuts to government environmental justice, climate research, and climate change adaptation and mitigation programs."
			
			
 The Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice in the National Capital Region invite congregations all over the country to incorporate letter writing into their climate justice advocacy.  Volunteers with UUSJ’s Advocacy Corps are happy to deliver congregations' letters in person on Capitol Hill. Visit their website for a toolkit and more information:  www.uusj.net ;
			
		
	

                             


                  
                                                      
                  
(C) 2013 UU                   Ministry for Earth, 1034 SW 13th Ave., Portland, OR 97205                   
UU Ministry                   for Earth is a 501(c)3 organization. Contributions are tax                   deductible to the full extent of the                   law.


                  
 
                  



        
          

        
          
            
              
              
                
                  
                    
                    
                      
This email was sent to <<Constituent                         Email>>. If you're having trouble viewing this                         email, you may see                         it online. To opt out, please click here. 
                    
                      
Forward                         email. 
                      
. 


                
                  
                    
                    
                      
Email                         Marketing By 
                    
                      
              








  


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lekook.org/pipermail/lekooks_lekook.org/attachments/20170314/b4d223ec/attachment.htm>