EPA is Changing the Rule Book!

Back in 2009, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) published findings on the endangerment of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, which overall established that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane endanger human lives. These findings led to changes in the country’s regulations of the transportation and energy sectors with the goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, the EPA under the Trump administration is proposing a Rule that would completely negate the endangerment findings and roll back all of the progress that has been made towards the EPA’s previous goals. Limits on transportation and energy emissions would be rescinded. Supposedly the EPA will argue that imposing climate regulations on auto companies poses the real harm to human health because it would lead to higher prices and reduced consumer choice.

If this Rule is passed, it could have lasting negative effects on the impact of climate change on our country and our world.

Read more about this issue in this New York Times article.

24 States Sued the Administration for Freezing Already Approved Money for Education!

The Trump administration froze over 6 billion dollars of already approved money for schools, creating havoc and uncertainty, as districts are getting ready for the new school year. School districts had already voted on their annual budgets and signed contracts for the upcoming school year, so adjusting to the lack of funds was impossible. Fortunately, the lawsuits were successful, and the U.S. Department of Education just released over 5 billion dollars of the 6 billion dollars they froze. However, the Big Ugly Bill that Congress just passed has cut all of that funding for the 2026 school year, so states will be left scrambling to come up with the difference. Of course this is going to impact the less affluent communities the most, since so much of that funding goes to before-school and after-school programs, as well as services for English language learners.