Activists protest proposed EPA cuts, seek Schneider's support

Upset by the Trump administration's efforts to reduce funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, concerned citizens and activists gathered Tuesday for a rally outside the offices of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider in Lincolnshire.

Trump's budget proposal released last week would cut the EPA budget by 31 percent, reduce its staff by a fifth and eliminate programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which protects local bodies of water, including Lake Michigan, opponents say.

"As we have seen recently, there have been a lot of attacks on our EPA," said Nicholas Jansen, field organizer for Food and Water Watch, the organization spearheading Tuesday's rally. "Every day we are getting new stuff that we are going to have to fight against and resist against."

Protesters said they were rallying outside Schneider's office to thank him for his support of their cause.

Schneider is in Washington, D.C., but issued a letter on the proposed EPA cuts.

"Let me be clear, I am adamantly opposed to these cuts and will do everything in my power to ensure robust funding for the (Great Lakes initiative) and critical EPA programs," he wrote.