A shortnose sturgeon crashes down on its back after leaping from the Kennebec River, July 23, in Augusta. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP

Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com

Have you ever stopped to consider how fortunate we are in our great State of Maine that we take our drinking water for granted? We have been historically known for crystal clear waters throughout our entire state, enough so that one of the best known global brands for clean water originated in Maine: Poland Spring Water. To say nothing of our world-class brook trout and salmon fisheries.

Imagine now a future where there are no legal protections for those waters that we assume will be there forever. Our ability to access crystal clear, naturally pure water for us and our future generations stripped away without our consent. Would you stand for that? I wouldn’t and I don’t think you would either.

Well, if passed, the current U.S. House appropriations bill for FY26 will slash budget funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 23 percent. An agency created by a Republican president to ensure that all Americans have access to clean water, clean air and a healthy environment would be decimated by the misguided policy agenda of the same party 50 years later.

Let’s not backslide. Now is the time for you to step up to protect our common heritage with a simple action: Take two minutes out of your day to call Rep. Jared Golden (Bangor office: 207-249-7400) and Sen. Susan Collins (Bangor office: 207-945-0417) and tell them to support the fundamental right of all Mainers to protect and preserve our clean water, clean air and healthy environment by maintaining the current funding level for the EPA.

Rich Ruhlin
Industry

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