November 7, 2001 -- EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today praised the work of a key Senate appropriations committee in lining up the agency's budget for 2002.
The Veterans, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Conference Committee is finalizing the EPA's budget which includes $25 million for grants to states to develop the Environmental Information Exchange Network.
"I commend the Conference Committee for the work it has done to allocate funds to further the goals of the EPA," Whitman said. "The $7.9 billion will enable the Agency to move forward on its initiatives. I want to extend my appreciation for the leadership provided by Senators Barbara Mikulski and Christopher Bond and Representatives James Walsh and Alan Mollohan in crafting this measure for maximum effect."
The Committee provided $25 million that was a priority for the Agency and the Administration to give grants to states to help develop and implement the Environmental Information Exchange Network. "The funds will help build on work that is already underway in several states to develop a single integrated information system. The information in one place will help to provide more reliable, high quality information for the public, ease reporting burdens for the regulated community and standardize business processes," Whitman explained.
In addition, the Conference ratified the Agency's previous week's decision on setting a level of 10 parts per billion of arsenic in drinking water. Administrator Whitman's letter to the conferees was included in the conference report of the appropriations measure.
The Conference Committee planned to file its report today and push for floor action this week on the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations measure for fiscal year 2002.
