Big Cuts for EPA

The House Appropriations Committee significantly cuts the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA’s) appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013.  The 2013 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill funds the Department of Interior, EPA, and the Forest Service at $28 billion for FY ’13.  This is a reduction of $1.2 billion from FY ’12 and $1.7 billion below the administration’s request.  The legislation cuts EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s office by 30% and reduces EPA’s congressional affairs office by half.  A cap on EPA’s personnel levels would continue, which currently are at their lowest levels since 1992.