Policy Tools » Policy Action for Ecological Scientists: EPA
Date, 2007
The Honorable (first and last name of Senator)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (last name of Senator):
(OR FOR LETTERS TO REPRESENTATIVES):
The Honorable (full name of Congressperson)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative (LAST NAME OF CONGRESSMAN):
As a constituent, I write to express my great concern about key aspects of the Administration's budget proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency. I am especially concerned about plans to severely curtail the agency's ecosystem research, particularly monitoring the health of lakes and streams in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states . In addition, the total budget proposed for EPA's Science and Technology Fellowship programs is only about half of the funding level enacted in fiscal year 2006.
The proposal to slash the agency's ecosystem research is short-sighted and flies in the face of logic. These sites were set up some 20 years ago to monitor ecosystem response to acid precipitation reductions mandated by the Clean Air Act. Termination of these monitoring programs will greatly diminish the nation's ability to assess its progress in reaching CAA goals and also to learn about emerging environmental challenges.
Fellowships offered by the agency, such as the Science to Achieve Results fellowship, provide support to graduate students engaged in environmental research of direct relevance to the mission of EPA. [PROVIDE EXAMPLE OF STAR RESEARCH] STAR is slated for a $1.8 million cut in the Administration's budget proposal for fiscal year 2008.
I ask for your help to ensure that EPA's long-term monitoring programs are continued and that as much support as possible is given to the agency's fellowship programs.
Thank you for consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Your name and home mailing address
