The House Committee on Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing on March 21 on a legislative proposal to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to full Cabinet status. The Subcommittee is considering two separate proposals (H.R. 2438/H.R 2694), one of which simply reconstitutes EPA as a Cabinet agency, and the other, which includes certain reforms.

Proposals to elevate EPA to Cabinet-level status have circulated for many years; the idea makes sense, although the details of the various proposals differ. With an annual budget exceeding $7 billion and a staffing level of 18,000 employees, EPA already is larger than several existing Cabinet-level departments. House Republicans are believed to be drafting a set of reforms to be included in EPA elevation legislation, which may result in a rift with the White House. Congressional Democrats support a “clean” elevation bill, as does President Bush and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. Subcommittee Chairman David Ose (R-CA) is believed to be drafting a set of non-controversial reforms that will address certain structural changes at the Agency.

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