March 18, 2002
Act Now to Save the National Office of Environmental Education
Dear friend of wildlife,
In 1990, then-President George Bush signed the national Environmental
Education Act, an act requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
provide national leadership in the movement to increase environmental
literacy.
Since that time, the Office of Environmental Education within the EPA has
strengthened the quality of environmental education curriculum materials,
enhanced training methods for teachers and resource professionals and
increased access to information about environmental topics. This 12-year
commitment to excellence has resulted in tens of thousands of our nation's
youth receiving scientifically accurate, objective and educationally sound
opportunities teaching them about our natural heritage and instilling in
them a sense of stewardship for the environment.
Today, President Bush's proposed budget would reverse 12 years of good work
by the Office of Environmental Education. His proposed budget includes an
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recommendation that would:
Close the National Office of Environmental Education at EPA;
End the successful Environmental Education and Training Partnership;
Eliminate $8 million in annual Environmental Education funding provided by
EPA;
End support for the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation.
What You Can Do
We must act soon to convince Congress and President Bush not to make this
costly mistake. Timing is crucial. House and Senate appropriations
subcommittees have already begun to review the FY 2003 budget proposal and
are expected to review the EPA budget in mid-March. Tell your senators and
representatives that environmental education is too important to put on the
back burner. Send them a clear message that the EPA Office of Environmental
Education must be restored. Go to
http://ga1.org/campaign/bushadministration03182002?source=howtohelp to send
a fax or e-mail letter to your senators or representatives. Feel free to
edit the suggested text. A personalized letter often has more impact on
members of Congress.
Additional Information
For more information about the Bush administration's budget recommendation
to move $8 million in environmental education funding from the Environmental
Protection Agency to the National Science Foundation; key areas of concern
for environmental educators; and information about the EPA and the National
Environmental Education Training Foundation's track record with
environmental education funding, check out: www.nwf.org/action.
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