WASHINGTON, DC— This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will award $389,155 in grants to environmental projects along the Arizona-Sonora border through its Border 2020 Initiative. According to the EPA, the grants will fund projects that “reduce emissions and wait times at ports of entry, increase waste diversion and composting, and improve emergency response capacity.” In response, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“At a time when the EPA is rolling back critical safety standards and public health protections, I’m thrilled to see that at least in some instances they are sticking to the mission of the agency and funding projects that directly impact the health of border communities. The U.S.-Mexico border faces a barrage of challenging environmental issues that require innovative, binational solutions that benefit residents on both sides of the border. Grants like these are critical to investing in science-based solutions that will ensure that border communities continue to be great places to live for all who reside there.”