Good news! The House Appropriations Committee released its FY 2018 Interior and Environment Appropriations budget bill today and it fully funds the Chemical Safety Board. The Trump administration had recommended that the Board be eliminated. The sub-committee will vote on the bill tomorrow
House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen stated that “This legislation responsibly supports the agencies and offices we rely on to preserve our natural resources for future generations, and prioritizes our limited funding to programs that protect environmental safety, such as the Chemical Safety Board.” Frelinghuysen is from New Jersey which has more than its share of refineries and chemical facilities.
The full House and the Senate still need to vote on the CSB’s budget, but things are looking good. Great work everyone who’s been calling their representatives.
Now let’s save the Harwood grants.
For more background I’ve written several times about the importance of the Chemical Safety Board:
Thankfully, industry opposed CSB elimination or I’m not sure it would have survived.
Nice to hear some good news. We need the CSB more than ever with OSHA and EPA being cut as well, there is increased likelihood of unsafe operations and lax enforcement leading to be more disasters. But I smiled at the photo you use. Given the CSB’s years of austerity, cut backs and now threats from Trump, the photo depicting a dubious survival may be apt.
Fully funded?
Well, the board asked for $11.6 million and that bill gives the board $11 million. Obviously better than $0.
But previous boards have asked for much more money — $12.5 million in 2000 and $12.8 million in 2012.
It’s obvious that to really do its job the CSB needs more than what it has been given.
[…] House Appropriations Committee included funding for Chemical Safety Board in its 2018 budget. Congress returns from summer recess today (Sept. […]