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AFGE EPA Council Members to Meet With Congressional Leaders

Posted on: Monday, 2 February 2009, 10:40 CST

EPA's labor union Stresses Need for Increased Funding at the agency

CHICAGO, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees National Council 238 of EPA Locals today announced that it will be sending some 25 union leaders from its affiliated locals across the country to meet in February with their local and key representatives of Congress in order to update them on issues important to its members and the American people. Council 238's congressional visits coincide with AFGE's annual Legislative & Grassroots Mobilization Conference in Washington, D.C. (Feb. 8-11).

Council members will urge Congress to restore EPA to its original mission of safeguarding human health and protecting the environment by ensuring adequate funding to hire more environmental engineers, scientists and specialists and re-installing the principles of scientific integrity. In addition, AFGE Council 238 would like quick action from Congress to get EPA back on track by emphasizing stronger enforcement programs, addressing global climate change, creating green jobs and re-establishing world class EPA libraries.

"This may well be the dawn of a new era for EPA and AFGE Council 238 is proud to contribute to the effort to revitalize the agency," Council President Charles Orzehoskie said.

"With the appropriate support from Congress and the new administration, EPA's expert staff is ready to tackle the environmental challenges impacting our country and the entire world. At this unique time in history, EPA employees -- and AFGE -- will be there to contribute to a climate change solution and the creation of green jobs to revitalize our economy," said Mark Coryell, president of AFGE 3907 (National Vehicle & Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Orzehoskie added that, "As citizens of this great country, we should all be committed to ensuring that our children's children have clean air, land and water, and that the health and safety of our fellow citizens are protected. We have every hope that Congress feels the same way."

The Council has confirmed appointments with Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Dick Durban, D-Ill.; Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Tim Johnson, D-S.D.; Herb Kohl, D-Wisc.; Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; Bernard Sanders, I-Vt.; Debbie Stabenow , D-Mich.; George Voinovich, R-Ohio and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and U.S. Reps. Judy Biggert, R-Ill; Danny Davis, D-Ill.; Norman Dicks, D-Wash.; Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.; Rick Larsen, D-Wash.; Edward Markey, D-Mass.; David Price, D-N.C.; Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.; Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas; Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.; John Shimkus, R-Ill.; Bart Stupak, D-Mich.; Henry Waxman, D-Calif. and David Wu, D-Ore.

AFGE Council 238 and its affiliated locals constitute a union of highly dedicated employees working within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nationwide. Membership in the Council includes Locals at EPA Headquarters, Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10, as well as National Vehicle & Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Michigan, Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, and the Robert S. Kerr Research Laboratory in Oklahoma.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

Source: PR Newswire

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