Announcements

  • COALITION ACTION ALERT- 1st day federal fiscal year 2013

    Today is the first day of the federal fiscal year. US EPA does not have ADEQUATE resources for all its schools initiatives, including Green and Healthy Schools, and the IAQ TfS, IPM, and Chemical Cleanout programs. Last weekend, the Senate voted 62-30 to approve a continuing resolution that will fund the government for the first six months of fiscal year 2013, which begins today, October 1, 2012. The bill maintains federal spending at fiscal year 2012 levels, plus a 0.612 percent increase across the board. Agencies decide internally how to allocate the .612%. Added threat: EPA and other agencies now face the threat of losing 8-9% of their overall funding if the President and Congress during the post-election “lame duck” session fail to reach a deficit-cutting agreement and the federal sequester law takes effect on New Year’s Day 2013. See Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012, calling for across-the-board cuts to federal programs. Also known as H.R. 5872, the bill squeaked through the House and passed the Senate. Federal sequester law cuts take effect in 92 days See QUESTIONS for local, state, and federal candidates, sample OP-EDS, and sample LETTERS TO EDITOR, at