Senate Votes 79-15 to Give EPA Full Cabinet Status

The Senate voted Tuesday to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to full Cabinet status, a move sought by President Clinton as part of his pledge to step up protection of the nation’s air and water.

The bill, approved 79 to 15, also would give the agency a new name, the Department of Environmental Protection. It would become the federal government’s 15th Cabinet department.

The measure now goes to the House, where it faces an uncertain future.

Included in the bill is Clinton’s proposal to abolish the 23-year-old White House Council on Environmental Quality, a low-profile panel that has been largely bypassed within the new Administration.

The White House is trying to assure House members that the Administration can do a competent job of carrying out the council’s duties, which include the sensitive role of referee in environmental disputes between Cabinet agencies.

That power would remain in the White House under the Senate bill.

Elevating the status of the EPA would make Administrator Carol Browner a full-fledged Cabinet member, giving her additional status within the Administration and overseas as well.

Supporters say Cabinet status is necessary to deal effectively in the increasingly important arena of international environmental issues, where other industrial nations have Cabinet-level environmental ministers.

The bill would establish a bureau of environmental statistics in the department to address complaints that the EPA has not adequately compiled scientific and environmental information.

It also calls for a presidential recommendation within 90 days on whether to give a single government agency the power to regulate agricultural practices on wetlands.

In addition, the bill would require an office of environmental justice in the new department to address concerns that minority communities are disproportionately affected by polluting industries.