It’s no secret that Mainers love the outdoors. Yet the state’s protected forests, lakes and coasts are under threat in Congress.

The U.S. House recently passed H.R. 6147, an Interior Department-Environmental Protection Agency spending bill that cut funding for the EPA and conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The bill was also loaded with anti-environmental policy provisions that harm clean water, public lands and children’s health.

Over the past 50 years, Maine has received approximately $188 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect the state’s parks, forests and refuges. These treasured places cannot afford cuts to such an important funding source.

Now, as the Senate prepares to vote on the bill, we call on Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King to reject the House version and pass an Interior Department-EPA spending bill that fully funds programs to protect our health and environment and is free of anti-environmental policy provisions.

Elizabeth Leape

Environment Maine national office

Washington, D.C