Increase for EPA budget

The Obama administration has proposed a budget of $10.5 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a $3 billion increase from 2008 funding levels and the largest total in the agency’s 39-year history.

The budget initiatives include an increase of $19 million for greenhouse gas funding, the first step towards developing an economy-wide cap-and-trade program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions approximately 83% below 2005 levels by 2050, EPA said.

“We are no longer faced with the false choice of a strong economy or a clean environment,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The president’s budget shows that making critical and responsible investments in protecting the health and environment of all Americans will also lead to a more vibrant and stable economy. With these proposed resources, and the president’s strong environmental agenda, it should be overwhelmingly clear that EPA is back on the job.”