Barrow Seeks to Halt EPA Grants Being Awarded to Projects Outside the United States

Press Release

Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) recently introduced H.R. 4255 to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from awarding grants to projects outside of the United States under the Clean Air Act.

"With a struggling American economy and a mounting federal deficit it's ridiculous for the EPA to award American taxpayer dollars to foreign countries," Barrow said. "Congress needs to make some difficult decisions to get our fiscal house in order, which is why I support reducing the debt by $4 trillion over the next 10 years. But taxpayer dollars to foreign countries like China through EPA grants seems like a common sense place to start cutting spending to me."

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA has the authority to issue grants to programs and projects around the world. Some examples of the projects EPA has supported through these grants include:

o $141,450 to China to "quantify the environmental impacts from different biogas digesters used to treat swine manures in China."

o $150,000 for clean cooking technology in Kenya, and

o $180,000 to train Polish municipalities on landfill gas.

H.R. 4255 will prohibit the EPA from awarding money to programs or activities that take place outside of the United States. Additionally, this bill will prevent grant applicants in the United States from sub-granting awards from the EPA to activities outside of the United States.

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