Clinton asks for $7.3 billion for EPA in 2001

Clinton's proposed EPA budget includes $215 million for clean-air initiatives for cities such as Washington, D.C., pictured here in a cloud of pollution.

February 10, 2000
Web posted at: 3:27 PM EST (2027 GMT)

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By Environmental News Network staff

President Clinton's request of $7.3 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the fiscal year 2001 represents the largest budget for the agency during his administration.

"The Clinton-Gore Administration has achieved an unparalleled record of protecting the public health and environment of America," said EPA chief Carole Browner. "This budget builds on that progress and addresses our country's greatest environmental challenges - providing our children and our communities with cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner lands and improved quality of life."

Though pleased with the proposed budget, environmentalists warn that Congress' pruning shears will likely be sharp when Clinton's budget is debated in the Legislature.

"President Clinton today laid out the most aggressive environmental budget I've ever seen," said Sierra Club legislative director Debbie Sease. "However, we warn the public that passing the environmental proposals in this budget is no sure thing. Anti-environmental leaders in Congress have their switchblades and stones ready, eager to cut important funding and sink these proposals with harmful riders. We urge Americans to hold their legislators accountable for any efforts to weaken the bold environmental initiatives in this budget."

Here is an outline of Clinton's proposed budget for the EPA:

The budget earmarks $784 million for Clinton's Clean Water Action plan, of which $50 million would go toward cleaning up the Great Lakes.

The allocation would also fund efforts to clean up polluted waterways across the country and protect lakes, rivers and bays from polluted runoff.

Clinton wants $215 million for initiatives to improve America's air quality. The administration targets $85 million for the Clean Air Partnership fund, a program designed to strengthen coalitions between states, tribal governments and communities in projects to reduce air pollution.

The Climate Change Technology Initiative, which funds voluntary programs that promote and use innovative technology, would get $227 million. Programs under the initiative would save billions of dollars in energy costs while reducing pollution that contributes to global warming.

Clinton's budget would commit $68 million for children's health. The money would be targeted at environmental threats such as lead contamination and air pollution that contributes to asthma.

President Clinton's proposed $7.3 billion EPA budget for the fiscal year 2001 would allocate $1.45 billion to clean up Superfund sites, the nation's worst toxic-waste sites.

Another $75 million is designated for the Food Quality Protection Act, which sets food safety standards intended to protect children.

The President's budget includes $30 million to establish the Information Integration Initiative. Under the program, the EPA would set up a network with states, local communities and tribes to distribute important environmental information through the Internet and other means. The hope is that this network will improve decision-making processes, reduce paperwork for the regulatory community and provide the public with more reliable information about environmental issues.

The budget also proposes $2.2 billion in bond authority to support the president's Better America Bonds initiative currently under consideration by Congress. The initiative is designed to encourage state, local and tribal governments to issue bonds for programs that address environmental problems such as traffic congestion and water quality.

In lieu of interest revenue from state, local and tribal governments, BAB provides federal tax credits for bondholders. Some $10.75 billion in bond authority has been proposed over the next five years. If the initiative is passed, EPA will oversee the program.

The proposed budget earmarks $1.45 billion to continue the cleanup of the nation's worst toxic waste sites, or Superfund sites.

U.S. Public Interest Research Group is not happy with the funding levels specified by the President for the Superfund program. "We are extremely disappointed that President Clinton slashes funding for the vital Superfund programs," said Lexi Shultz, a U.S. PIRG staff attorney.

The budget also proposes $92 million for the Brownfields program, which helps communities work together to create jobs and put abandoned properties back into productive use.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
OCFO - Budget Introduction
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