1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

The proposed elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development is deeply concerning and detrimental to public health and environmental protection. This office employs over 1,000 scientists who conduct vital research on air and water quality, toxic site cleanups, and other crucial areas. Dismantling this scientific arm would severely hamper the EPA's ability to carry out its core mission of safeguarding clean air, water, and land for all Americans. Scientific research and data are essential for developing effective policies and regulations to address environmental issues. Without this in-house expertise, the EPA would become overly reliant on outside interests that may not have the public's best interests in mind. Furthermore, firing these highly skilled professionals would represent a tremendous loss of institutional knowledge. I urge you to oppose any efforts to defund or dismantle the Office of Research and Development. The American people deserve an EPA with the resources and capability to thoroughly study environmental threats and implement science-based solutions. Protecting our nation's natural resources and public health should be a top priority. Preserving the EPA's scientific integrity is critical to this endeavor.