WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today led a hearing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ON PROVIDING EPA WITH THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO DO ITS JOB:
Chairman Carper:
“The President’s $11 billion budget request for EPA represents a 20 percent increase over the amount Congress approved for fiscal year 2024. That may seem like a significant increase — and I agree that it is. But make no mistake, after years of funding cuts and freezes, the agency needs additional investments if it is to better protect the health and wellbeing of our constituents across America. Those of us who care about the future of the planet — and I believe that’s every one of us — want an EPA that has resources that it needs to … combat the greatest threat that we face today … and that’s the climate crisis.”
ON ENSURING EPA CAN CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT HISTORIC INVESTMENTS MADE BY CONGRESS:
Chairman Carper:
“How important are the investments provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the President’s budget for reducing U.S. Emissions to head off the worst of climate change? Why do these investments matter?”
Michael Regan, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
“These investments are critical to preserve both the economy and the environment. If we are able to leverage the historic resources that we received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, we are able to marry those financial incentives with the statutory and regulatory obligations that we have … Coupling those investments with our regulatory obligations creates a win-win opportunity for global competiveness.”
ON EPA’S CONTINUED WORK TO BENEFIT OUR HEALTH, PLANET AND ECONOMY:
Chairman Carper:
“Beyond its implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has also been busy acting, as you know, to develop and finalize rules — informed by cutting-edge scientific research — to remove dangerous pollutants from the water that we drink and the air that we breathe. EPA’s new climate and clean air regulations will result in billions of dollars in climate and public health benfits across our country — all while encouraging America’s innovation to help industry meet stronger standards on reasonable timelines.”
Administrator Regan:
“Over the last year, we’ve been hard at work at EPA. And under President Biden’s leadership, my agency has finalized protections that will bring 100 million people cleaner and safer drinking water from PFAS, and we’ve worked hard to right many of the historic wrongs communities have faced for generations ... EPA is committed to protecting public health and the environment for all American people.”
Click here to watch Chairman Carper’s round of questions.
Click here to watch Chairman Carper’s opening statement.
