WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, sent a letter today to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Mike Leavitt, asking for information regarding possible EPA grants awarded to an interest group – National People’s Action – that recently picketed the personal residence of Presidential advisor Karl Rove. The protest occurred when he and his children were home and that U.S. Secret Service and D.C. Metropolitan Police were required to disperse the group from Mr. Rove’s lawn.

Inhofe held a hearing on EPA grants oversight on March 3rd of this year to look into the grants management practices at the EPA which have been a subject of criticism by the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. General Accounting Office, and the EPA Inspector General for the last several years.

Inhofe writes, “I believe that grants can be one of the best tools to accomplish the EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment; however, it would be disturbing to learn that the federal government is subsidizing interest groups or their affiliates that conduct themselves in such a manner as the National People’s Action has demonstrated.”

The following information on EPA grants or contracts awarded directly to or subcontracted by other grantees to the National People’s Action and the Sunflower Community Action over the past five years has been requested:

Amounts of any grants or contracts
Beginning and ending dates of any grants or contracts
Copies of grant contracts or contract awards
Copies of all grants or contracts deliverables
Names of project officers for any grants or contracts
Names of approving officers for any grants or contracts
Approving office within the Agency

A full copy of the letter is attached:

 

###

April 2, 2004

Honorable Michael O. Leavitt Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Leavitt,

In an article featured in Washington Post on Monday March 29, I was alarmed to read that an interest group picketed the personal residence of Presidential advisor Karl Rove when he and his children were home and that U.S. Secret Service and D.C. Metropolitan Police were required to disperse the group from Mr. Rove’s lawn. I was alarmed even greater to read in the same article that this group also intended to picket the homes of Secretaries Chao and Veneman. The article ended with a quote from the leader of the interest group stating that they intended to possibly return Mr. Rove’s home.

However, what may cause the greatest alarm, is that I understand this group is at least partially funded by the federal government receiving grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I would like to request the following information on EPA grants or contracts awarded directly to or subcontracted by other grantees to the National People’s Action and the Sunflower Community Action over the past five years:

Amounts of any grants or contracts Beginning and ending dates of any grants or contracts Copies of grant contracts or contract awards Copies of all grants or contracts deliverables Names of project officers for any grants or contracts Names of approving officers for any grants or contracts Approving office within the Agency

I would like this information by Monday April 12, 2004.

As you know, the Environment and Public Works Committee takes its oversight responsibilities seriously in regards to federal grants management. Grants management practices at the EPA have been a subject of criticism by the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. General Accounting Office, and the EPA Inspector General for the last several years. I announced at the Committee’s March 3, 2004 hearing that we are going to stay on top of this issue until real changes are made. I believe that grants can be one of the best tools to accomplish the EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment; however, it would be disturbing to learn that the federal government is subsidizing interest groups or their affiliates that conduct themselves in such a manner as the National People’s Action has demonstrated.

I appreciate your cooperation with this request.

Sincerely,

 

JAMES M. INHOFE Chairman