Joint Statement in Support of Environmental Funding
A coalition of 19 faith organizations urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate sufficient funding for environmental protection.
June 30, 2026
The Honorable Susan Collins
Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Patty Murray
Vice Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tom Cole
Chair
House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
House Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro:
On behalf of the below 19 listed faith based organizations and religious bodies, as you discern priorities for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), we urge you to provide the robust funding to the agencies and offices that are necessary to protect God’s planet and promote the well-being of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable, from the impacts of climate change and pollution.
We are deeply concerned and alarmed by the substantial cuts that have been made to agencies charged with protecting the environment, human health, our communities and our lands. We need government agencies that are appropriately funded for the task at hand, along with measures to ensure accountability and transparency.
EPA’s budget is currently 50 percent lower than it was in 1980, adjusted for inflation.1 Its workforce is smaller than it was in 1987.2 As climate change worsens and American communities continue to face dangerous levels of air and water pollution, we must invest more in EPA’s critical work, not less. Programs like the Clean Air and Climate Program, Tribal Air Quality Management Grants, State and Local Air Quality Management Grants, and compliance and enforcement activities are necessary for the protection of God’s sacred creation and the dignity of human life.
Across all faith traditions, we hold central the deep, inherent value and dignity of human life. We urge Congress to include bill language that mandates EPA to consider the value of human lives when analyzing the benefits and costs of pollution rules. This is necessary for EPA to effectively and responsibly utilize its budget to carry out its core mission of protecting human health and the environment.
Climate change, natural disasters, extreme weather events, and pollution disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color, exacerbating existing inequalities and injustices. As people of faith, we have a moral calling to respond and work to address these systemic failures. We urge you to ensure full funding for programs, across various agencies, which serve to assist and protect vulnerable communities from climate change and environmental harms, and create greater opportunities for access to public lands and clean energy. This includes, but is not limited to, robust funding for the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, the Department of Energy’s wind, solar, and weatherization programs, and the National Park Service’s (NPS) Underrepresented Communities Grant (URC) Program. To ensure the protection of God’s creation and honor the dignity of all persons, we ask that each of the aforementioned agencies and their vital programs receive full funding.
Out of love for all that God has created, we also request special consideration for agencies and programs that protect marine and coastal resources, as well as our nation’s most vulnerable species. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries supports the conservation, preservation, and vitality of our nation’s underwater wildlife. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is vital for sustaining ocean wildlife, as well as helping communities better understand and be prepared for changes in climate and weather. Finally, it is imperative that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) receives full funding in order to protect and recover our nation’s endangered animals and plants. We urge Congress to provide robust funding for FWS’s Ecological Services Program and Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
We implore you to remember that a budget is a moral document; it communicates clearly our values and our priorities. We ask all members of Congress to prioritize the well-being and dignity of American communities, and the responsible stewardship and protection of God’s sacred creation.
Sincerely,
Adamah
American Friends Service Committee
Creation Justice Ministries
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Jewish Earth Alliance – Pennsylvania
Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team Texas Impact
United Church of Christ
Union for Reform Judaism
Unity Earthcare Alliance
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Smith, available in public domain via Unsplash.