Bush Budget Cuts Environmental Funding 7 Percent - Reuters

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "The Bush administration on Monday proposed a 2005 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) which is down more than 7 percent from levels Congress enacted in 2004, but includes more money to clean up toxic waste sites while slashing funds for clean water projects by about $500 million.

President Bush (news - web sites)'s proposed $2.4 trillion election-year budget includes $7.76 billion for EPA, the agency charged with keeping the nation's air, water and land pollution-free. Proposed funding is down from the $8.4 billion that Congress allocated for EPA in the current budget year.

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However, some lawmakers and environmental groups criticized the budget as hindering U.S. environmental initiatives.

"This budget not only shortchanges our environment, it challenges our nation's role as a global environmental leader," said independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont. "Congress will not let this stand," said Jeffords, the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has oversight over some EPA programs."

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