THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 17, 1996 TAG: 9606140030
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 31 lines
As Congress races to get home for the July 4th recess, many important government-spending bills will be considered in the House and Senate. The leadership in Congress may not be adding the dreaded ``riders'' that it did,last year.
But congressional leaders are denying our nation's budget the funding needed to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and our national parks. Plans to keep our environment safe and healthy, without the money to actually do the work needed, will never translate into the result that we need.
Amounts proposed for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior will reduce the effectiveness of these programs and fall short of the president's goals. The proposed EPA bill would give the agency $500 million less than the administration's request. The Interior Appropriations bill, which passed through its subcommittee June 5, fell $500 million below the level enacted for the current year.
Our Republican Sen. John Warner's environmental voting record has been terrible! The League of Conservation Voters rated him only 7 percent out of a possible 100!
Now is the time to urge Congress to adequately fund environmental programs. The protection of the Chesapeake Bay and America's environment for our families and for our future is well worth the investment.
HANK HELMEN
Norfolk, June 13, 1996 by CNB