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McCollum Statement on 2017 Earth Day

April 21, 2017

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), the lead Democrat on the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement ahead of the global celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, April 22:

"As we celebrate Earth Day, we reflect on environmental challenges in our communities and around the world. This year, our air, our water, our treasured places, and even the health of our planet are under attack from President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.

"In its first 100 days, the Trump administration has rescinded critical clean water and clean air protections, ignored science and allowed toxic chemicals in our water, and is abandoning our global commitments to address the threat of climate change. President Trump has shown just how little he values the environment by proposing severe budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"If President Trump and Congressional Republicans' get their way, we will go back to the days of festering toxic waste sites, burning rivers, and smog enveloping our major cities. To keep this nightmare from becoming our reality, we must stand together as Americans and speak out for clean air, clean water, protection of public lands — including Minnesota's Boundary Waters— and action on climate change. Our Earth depends on it."