Friday, February 14, 2020

Clean Water Advocates: White House Budget Shows Sec. Bernhardt Does Not Care About Our Public Lands, Our Communities, or Our Drinking Water

From Feb. 11th:
WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier today, the Trump Administration released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes a 13 percent cut to the Department of Interior funding, and a 97% cut in discretionary spending on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

Statement from Brent Bolin, political director at Clean Water Fund:

“There is a deep history of support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund from Americans on both sides of the aisle because investing in communities and our public lands is good for our country. But President Trump and his political appointees at the Department of Interior, specifically Secretary Bernhardt, clearly don’t share in this vision and are willing to sacrifice our lands and put communities at risk.

“The White House’s cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund are part of a broader assault on our water, lands, and communities. Trump’s proposal cuts EPA’s budget by 26% and eliminates programs that protect iconic water bodies like Puget Sound, the Everglades, and Lake Champlain. Congress must reject this budget and fully and permanently fund the LWCF, a crucial government program that keeps our wild spaces and cultural heritage intact while ensuring that the American people have access to clean drinking water and public lands that benefit everyone. This budget makes it clear that Trump and Bernhardt care more about padding the pockets of big oil executives than about protecting our cultural heritage and local economies.”