Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this Rule and this incredibly shortsighted legislation before us today. The underlying bill is a direct attack on the environment and as a result an assault on public health and our economy.

The programs included in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill affect so many aspects of our lives including clean air, clean water, public health and support for the arts.

Unfortunately, at the funding level provided, the Environmental Protection Agency will be fundamentally dismantled, making the agency unable to implement its core mission of protecting the environment and promoting public health.

The bill also removes funding for programs that help modernize buildings and other infrastructure and funding for innovative projects that are helping communities implement smarter water management solutions that protect clean water and save consumers money.

In my district, the Sacramento and American Rivers provide 85 percent of drinking water to those that live in the City of Sacramento that is over 400,000 of my constituents. Mr. Speaker, we rely on federal support to ensure the water we drink is safe. Without the proper level of funding I am very worried that we are going down a path of unknown consequences.

This bill also hurts Sacramento by slashing funds for the EPA's Office of Smart Growth which has worked closely with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to ensure sustainable, positive growth in our region. In a time when local governments are suffering massive cuts, the investment in the Office of Smart Growth offers our communities assistance that will help them grow and revitalize their local economies.

Mr. Chair, the Sacramento area is on a path to become a national leader in the green economy, with over 230 companies, and 14,000 jobs. It is critical that we support policies that foster new innovation, and job growth in the green economy. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that!

What's more, this bill would cut the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by 13 percent. Both NEA and NEH grants are essential for our local economies. This funding is fundamental to supporting a thriving arts scene in my district, creating jobs and inspiring local students. As a former docent of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, I can tell you firsthand the effect that an individual piece of art or a trip to a museum can have on a child. These are cuts we cannot afford to make.

In previous years, the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill has provided an opportunity to move our nation forward and make progress in areas as diverse as climate change to water use efficiency. But in this Congress, this Majority is forcing us to take a huge step backwards.

As a whole, this legislation has an unprecedented number of special-interest policy riders that endanger public health and go beyond the scope of the legislation.

In an austere budget environment, we can all agree that cuts need to be made but cuts to public health, cannot and should not be made just to give subsidies to Big Oil and Wall Street Executives.

I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to consider the dangerous and unprecedented ramifications this bill would have on our constituents. I strongly reject this egregious proposal.

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