CONGRESS FACES GROWING PRESSURE TO BOOST EPA FUNDS FOR PM MONITORS

摘要

Congress is facing growing pressure from states and a bipartisan group of members in the House and Senate to restore funds for states and localities to monitor paniculate matter (PM) emissions after the Bush administration proposed cuts to the grant program in EPA's fiscal year 2007 budget request. In letters sent earlier this month to the Senate Budget Committee, the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee says Congress should restore the $17-million cut the White House proposed to the PM monitoring network in the budget request. The network includes about 1,500 sites throughout the country that are maintained by federal, state and local agencies, and the $17-million reduction is a key part of the overall $35.1 million cut the administration is seeking for grants for air quality management.