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U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is proposing legislation to ensure U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offices stay open, including those in Ann Arbor and Grosse Ile.

Dingell, D-Dearborn, is co-sponsoring what's being called the REGION Act to prevent the closure of any EPA regional or program offices.

The acronym stands for Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence.

Dingell argues President Donald Trump's budget proposal from earlier this year would gut the EPA and shutter several offices, including the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, which employs 435 people, and the Large Lakes Research Station office in Grosse Ile, which houses more than a dozen Emergency Response Division employees tasked with responding to and cleaning up environmental hazards or accidents.

"Hardworking EPA employees in Ann Arbor and Grosse Ile play a vital role in protecting our communities - whether it's reducing vehicle emissions and keeping the U.S. at the forefront of innovation or cleaning up toxic spills that threaten the health of our families and environment," Dingell said in a statement.

"We cannot afford to lose these jobs or halt the critical work taking place in these areas. This legislation will ensure that this important work continues in Michigan and at EPA offices across the country, where dedicated scientists, engineers and public servants are working every day to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink now and for the future. This must remain a top priority."

The legislation also would prevent the closure of the EPA Region 5 office in Chicago, which serves Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio. Dingell said the office is critical to protecting the air, water and health of residents in Great Lakes states.

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