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U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today stood up for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers in Michigan and across the country on “National Save the U.S. EPA Day.” The effort, led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), comes as the EPA faces deep funding cuts from President Trump and the Republican Congress that could slash up to 25 percent of the agency’s workforce and endanger its ability to protect public health and the environment for decades to come. 

“We cannot afford to lose these jobs or halt the critical work taking place in EPA offices in Michigan and across the country,” said Dingell. “That is why I have introduced legislation called the REGION Act, which would prevent the closure of any EPA regional or program office and protect thousands of jobs. This legislation will ensure that these dedicated scientists, engineers and public servants can continue working every day to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink now and for the future.”

Dingell introduced the REGION Act in July following reports that President Trump’s budget request would force several offices to shutter, including the U.S. EPA’s Large Lakes Research Station office on Grosse Ile and the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, which employs 435 people.

Dingell visited the Ann Arbor EPA lab in May to speak out against proposed cuts to the facility, which conducts critical research, testing, analysis and technological studies in support of the establishment and monitoring of both fuel economy and vehicle emission standards. Dingell’s legislation would also prevent the closure of the EPA Region 5 office in Chicago, which serves Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio and is critical to protecting the air, drinking water, and health of residents in the Great Lakes states.

“We need to stay united against these misguided cuts that would be bad for our economy, bad for our environment, and bad for our future,” Dingell said. “We must continue to make our voices heard that we want clean air, we believe in climate science, and we demand that the dedicated scientists and engineers at EPA be allowed to continue to serve the American people.”

Earlier this year, President Trump proposed cutting the EPA budget by $2.6 billion, a 31 percent decrease. The proposed 2018 budget for the EPA will result in the elimination of the Office of Environmental Justice, the Office of Public Engagement, and all 14 climate voluntary partnership programs. In addition, the proposed budget will slash state grants, cut geographic programs, and eliminate funding for science and technology programs by 14 percent.