As Congress nears the end of their session they have begun to address funding and have proposed a spending bill so as to avoid another government shut down. Unfortunately the proposed bill has serious implications for the environment and specifically clean water.

Attached to the spending bill are riders that weaken the Clean Water Act and protections for wildlife. Fortunately, a rider to shut down the EPA’s proposed clean water rule to restore Clean Water Act protections to thousands of streams and wetlands was not included in the final bill. However, this foreshadows future attacks on the proposed clean water rule.

Minnesota and its citizens have a substantial stake in the fight as the threatened rule would protect the drinking water for over 970,000 Minnesotans.

The passage of the spending bill is important to keep the government up and running, however it is outrageous that polluters are using budget legislation to attack environmental laws.

Polluters and their allies in Congress have deceptively used the necessary spending bill to achieve anti-environmental goals. We would like to thank Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Barbara Boxer for their efforts in supporting the Clean Water Act and also encourage Minnesota leaders to join the fight against these attacks. Whether used for recreation, construction or consumption, clean water remains integral to our way of life in Minnesota and must not be so easily be attacked.

 

Brian Wasz

Environment Minnesota

Minneapolis