Wheeler interested committee today. Todays hearing is the opportunity to hear about their good work and a chance for Committee Members to ask questions. The Environmental Protection agency is test with detecting the air we breathe, the water reaching and the communities where our family live. During the covid19 pandemic the agency has worked hard to provide the public with updated information on which disincentive disinfectants can be safely used to kill the virus. In addition, the epa has made Grant Funding available to the states and the tribes to help low income and minority communities address coronavirus. A has provided thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment to aid Health Professionals during the pandemic. A issued guidance to states and businesses on how it will enforce environmental laws when social distancing affects activities. Looking forward to hearing more about the agencys work during todays hearing. In addition to its work on the virus the agency has pursued policies to protect the environment while supporting the economy. Epa has replaced regulations industryed the coal and farmers and ranchers and many Small Businesses in wyoming. The 2017 the department of asked manufacturers which agency generated the greatest regulatory burdens. The answer was clear it was the epa. At the top of the list with the Clean Air Act rules. This year the Trump Administration replace the Obama Administrations illegal water of the u. S. Rule. And potholess would have fallen over washingtons control. The replacement waters of the u. S. Rule, known as the navigable waters protection is supported by states and farmers and ranchers and Small Businesses. Finalize the epa clean energy roles with common sense replacement to the overreaching clean power plan. The new rule follows the law and will enable the u. S. To continue to lower emissions. Under the current administration, epa has saved 5 billion in regulatory costs. Last year alone it saved americans an estimated 1. 5 billion. In the challenging economic reducing regulatory burdens to reinvigorate our economy has never been more important. Hashe same time epa refocused its mission on the basics of Environmental Protection and lower pollution levels. This work protects our nations air, land and water. Financing allowed billions of dollars of upgrades to our aging Water Infrastructure to move forward. These investments ensure americans have clean water, for drinking and recreation. Over the past three years, epa it has helped finance 8 billion worth of Infrastructure Projects under the Water Infrastructure and an innovation act. In his written testimony, administrator we were estimates these projects can create 16,000 jobs. Pa has also made progress in cleaning up some of the nations most contaminated sites. Last year it completed its work on all or part of 27 superfund sites on the National Priorities list. It is the most since 2007. Its brownfield land revitalization program, the agency is focused on cleaning up communities,essed particularly those located in opportunity zones. The tax cuts and jobs act created opportunity for zones as a way to spurt Economic Development in the communities that need it the most. The epa is taking actions to carry out it russian its mission while supporting economic growth. We can and we must do both. I would like to turn to ranking manner member carper for his Opening Statement. Carper thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I would like to begin my remarks this morning by welcoming wheeler. Atior us. S 100 yards away from i think i recognize them by the full head of hair. Welcome. Thank you for joining us today. Are not just sobering times. For a lot of americans they are scary times. Their time ise largely devoid of hope. I was asked earlier this week what provides me with inspiration in times like these and i responded without hesitation, it is the Selfless Service of extraordinary people. The Selfless Service of extraordinary people. People we oftentimes think of his ordinary folks, but who become extraordinary. I want to start off, mr. Chairman, talk a little bit about some of them. Thus far 14 Capitol Police officers have tested positive for covid19. Some members of congress and their families and staff have as well. These beautiful buildings on capitol hill were open this morning by people who serve our country by keeping us safe. By keeping the lights on. Occupyg the offices we in making the food and working behind the scenes to make events like this hearing possible. None of these unseen Public Service are guaranteed to work in a study room like the one allows all of us to remain several feet apartment with the fan face masks and Hand Sanitizer at the ready. Many of these public hearings many of these Public Servants have young children. They have no option for day care. Few if any have the option to telework. Staff andre here, the the House Building is open, operating and safe. They serve our country each in their own way just as we do. And they deserve the gratitude and our gratitude and our protection in turn. 00 senatorsf all 1 are want to start off this morning with a sincere and heartfelt thank you from all of us. Thank you. Now turning to todays hearing let me welcome andrew wheeler. Welcomed you before this committee, we were in the midst of a government shutdown. Aday we are in the midst of pandemic on mike anything we have seen in 100 years. During normal times, we would be holding a Budget Hearing months ago after the proposed budget was released. For those who may not recall the proposed federal budget for fiscal 2021 cut the budget by 25 . Reduction of 2. 5 billion from last years appropriation. Funding epa at that level would severely hamper programs that are important protect water, quality and Drinking Water. Programs that are intended during the pandemic to ensure people have clean water to wash their hands with and properly sanitize. And at a time when this pandemic is costing tens of Million People their jobs, that budget will leave epa with the smallest workforce in 30 years while funding the agency in real dollars not seen since the 1980s. While epa is not on the front lines of responded to the pandemic, the agency has a vital role to play. It requires funding that is commensurate with that role. Charged with evaluating disinfectants used keep us safe. It is charged with undertaking Environmental Research that can help us better understand away this disease and others like it or impacted by weather and climate and pollution. Perhaps most important, the agency is charged with protecting everyone in this country from drinking unsafe water and breathing unsafe air. Mission,omes to that regrettablytoo often the agency has done the opposite of what it should have been doing during this pandemic. Earlier today i released a report entitled the pandemic of pollution i asking animus consent to submit it. Without objection. Senator carper this report paints a grim picture. It describes the clear links that have been found between Climate Change and the likelihood of future pandemics. It also describes the clear evidence that other coronaviruses were more likely to cause the death than those who are exposed to pollution. This report also documents some of the emergency sites of governance that covid19 is more likely to kill people whose conditions are worsened by breathing more heavily polluted air. We already know that lower income and minority communities will face more air and Water Pollution than others. Suffering the most covid19 from covid19. In this national capital, the american, African Americans account for 80 of covid19 related deaths. While making up less than half the population. Despite this, epa has not spent standing up and aggressive Research Program to stand up the connections to better understand the connection between the pandemic and pollution. Instead, epa has spent much of this year proposing and finalizing rules a lot of us believe will cause more pollution in the future. Let me just provide a couple of examples. Analysis shows that its rollback of the clean car rolled will kill more people prematurely because of air pollution than the number of people whose lives the rule purports to save. In fact, the Environmental Defense fund estimates there would be 18,000 premature deaths caused by this rollback alone. That is more than half the people who live in dover, delaware, the capital of my state. Here is another example. The elimination of the legal underpinnings of the merger air toxics standard could result in thousands of additional premature deaths. According to epa Scientific Advisory committee, the agency has disbanded, the failure to strengthen its standards for particulate matter to kill 12,500 people prematurely every year. Injury, epa iso using the covid19 pandemic now to justify its proposal to allow the continued sale of antiquated woodstoves. Why is that important in thisal woodstoves countryemit five times more e mit fivetime more pollution and cement manufacturers paper plants combined. Five times more. Think about that. The new report i just released today and as to be entered for the record found that the rollbacks the epa has taken since march 1 could kill literally tens of thousands of people prematurely. These rollbacks are in fact the pandemic of pollution, rather attack it is contributing to wait in the middle of a pandemic. Heaven help us. Last night, the epa issued a press release in response to the report that i have been talking about calling it misleading, and political propaganda. In that release it failed to provide a single mention of air pollution. It did not even attempt to address only but my reports conclusion that the dangerous air pollution rollbacks epa has pursued in the past two months will kill thousands of people. Link betweential air pollution and covid19 could make our ongoing battle against the pandemic all the more difficult and more deadly. With thousands of people he could make this reality more tragic. It is not about politics. It is about people. Epa owes the American People some answers. I hope you get those this morning. Thank you all very much. Thank you, senator carper. The minority paper released erday is based on a non pe review harvard study connecting covid19 to particulate matter. The wall street journal observed that the study is riddled with flaws and its epidemiologists quoted stated when we look closely at the research, we saw so many shortcomings that we were not convinced of the results. I ask unanimous consent to enter this editorial into the record. We will now hear from our witness, the honorable andrew wheeler, administrator of the Environmental Protection agency. Your full written testimony will be made part of the official hearing record. Please try to give your comments to five minutes so we will have plenty of time for questions. We look forward to the testimony. I appreciate the opportunity to submit the statement regarding the epas proposed fiscal year 2021 budget request which supports the goals and objectives of the epas fiveyear plan. The year 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the epa. Made remarkable strides over that time ensuring a Clean Environment for all of our citizens. The epa approves the disinfectants americans used to safeguard their families, homes and businesses. The agency started on march 5 with 60 approved disinfectants against covid19. At this time, we have approved to the hard due work of career sciences. Epa requested that governors consider all wastewater workers as essential workers when enacting restrictions to curb covid19. We have also started a number of Research Activities related to covid19. T. The amazing work of our i. Office we doubled our capacity to telework within one week by increasing our capacity to 17,500 lines. Accomplishments will be considered impressive even under normal circumstances. Since the middle of march, epa has published its final safe. s rule. Proposed our retaining the current obama mask standard for particular matter. Waters u. S. Replacement rule, sent a costbenefit rule for review. In order grants to 150 communities across the country. Order 20 million to the great lakes and sent 1 million in environmental the justice communities address covid19 concerns for low income and minority communities. We have also not do this to tour our efforts to hire. We added 335 new employees and added by theill be end of june. Our mission is protect human health and the environment is critical and needs to be forward regardless of circumstances. Epa employees have risen to the task of carrying out their duties during this challenging time and i applaud all of them. Our budget requests includes over 1 billion to the superfund account to continue progress to revitalize lands. Epa in the last fiscal year played our up 27 superfund sites which is the largest number of deletions and a single year since 2001. Under President Trump, the epa deregulatory actions saving american 77 billion in costs. I want to be clear that we are not achieving this at the expense of environmental laws enacted by congress. Some of this important work is modernizing decades of old regulations and bringing them up to date. Thes worth remembering 1970s, more than 40 of our nations Drinking Water systems failed to meet the most basic health standards. Meet allr 93 standards all the time. Our air today and 74 cleaner than it was in 1970 with all six criteria air pollutants having decreased during this administration. Our nations children are vulnerable to the Health Impacts of unsafe Drinking Water. Especially lead exposure. The epa is coordinating with federal partners to reduce childrens exposure to lead to them lead Exposure Reduction Initiative included in this budget request. An additional 45 million will help decrease lead exposure on multiple fronts. Includest request also new resources for epa to mass actione chief plan, the first multiprogram National Research and Risk Communication plan to address an emerging class of chemicals of concern. Never been done in our 50 year history. The budget continues with the loan support which is producing results for the American People. Loans in total over 4. 2 billion of help finance 8 billion for Water Infrastructure projects creating 16,000 jobs. Continues to meet the major deadlines of the new cost and is working its way to the final risk evaluation for the first 10 last december we identified the next 20 high priority chemicals. As we approach the 50th anniversary in december we can say that americans now have significantly cleaner air, land, and water than in the past. The Trump Administration is proving that Environmental Protection and Economic Health can go hand in hand. This message of hope for our environment today and in the future is as important as ever during this challenging time. Of the example epa career employees and managers upset in the past several months. And he comforted with the fact that great progress in human and Environmental Health is being shared with all americans everywhere regardless of where they live. Thank you. Thank you so very much for your testimony. Since we have members are here, in the room and members who are watching from their offices and participating that way. The Ranking Member and i agreed to allow members a better sense of when they will be able to ask a question that we dispense with the earlybird rule. It will go by seniority on the committee today. Remember people watching from your offices. Let me start with a question. So much ofto apply the work the epa has done during your 10 year. Withstill deeply troubled the record of the epa on the renewable fuel standard, especially in regard to small refineries. Epas failure to challenge the standing claims of the biofuel producers in the 10th circuit is inexcusable. The epas failure to seek a hearing on the recent 10th circuit ruling was inexplicable. Unless the epa identifies ways to provide similar levels of relief to small refineries, the consequences of the decisions made by the epa are going to be devastating for communities and. Yoming and elsewhere what steps it are taking to help small refineries in light of the 10th circuits ruling and will you ensure that the epa gives any petitions for hardship relief in prior years prompt consideration . The last part of your question on request for waivers when and ass years, we receive any requests for prioryear waivers we will be sending those straight to the part apartment of energy for review. To the department of energy for review. Energy the department of that they supply to us the information as far as whether or not there is an Economic Hardship or waiver. As soon as her rec