Simpson Remarks at Budget Hearing on Environmental Protection Agency

This afternoon, I’d like to welcome the 17th Administrator of the EPA, Lee Zeldin.  Administrator Zeldin, welcome back. We are here to discuss the FY 2027 President’s budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency. 

This Administration is focused on right-sizing the EPA and returning the focus of the Agency to its statutory requirements.  The Agency ballooned in size in recent years, in part due to $100 billion in supplemental funding from bills outside of the annual appropriations process.  The amount of supplemental funding totaled more than 10 times the discretionary budget of the entire EPA. 

Some of this supplemental funding was fraught with waste and abuse, which is why Republicans rescinded some of it through the One Big Beautiful Bill. We learned about this thanks to your oversight work, Administrator. Looking ahead, we must responsibly evaluate the needs and mission of the Agency. 

This Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, similar to last year, proposes cuts to the Agency. 

We likely cannot accept the proposed steep cuts to the State and Tribal Assistance Grants that our states, tribes, and water utilities rely on for implementing federal statutes and providing safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater.  However, I look forward to hearing more about how the budget request right-sizes the Agency, and I am ready for the necessary and tough deliberations about how best to spend limited federal resources to ensure the Agency is protecting our air, land, and water resources. 

Many of my constituents in Idaho are also concerned about the intense regulatory overreach by prior Administrations that have made it harder for industry to thrive, or sometimes even survive.  Even though these very industries have made great strides in reducing their environmental footprint.

I look forward to hearing more today about your efforts – and the budgetary resources you need – in order to reduce regulatory burdens and provide certainty for our farmers and industries – whether that’s through reconsidering rulemakings or reviewing pesticide and chemical applications in a more timely and effective manner. 

Right now, our focus should be on implementing common-sense approaches that lower costs for everyday families and increase American competitiveness.  I believe there is an appropriate balance that protects our environment while promoting economic growth and job creation, and we need both in order for America to thrive. 

Thank you, Administrator Zeldin, for being here today to have this discussion with us.