Fairly or not, the Environmental Protection Agency has long held a reputation in some circles as the liberal hippie child of the U.S. government - a well-meaning kid who came back from college enthusiastic about hugging trees and fighting climate change, but naïve about the way the world works.
But what if the goals of the EPA are more bipartisan than we think?
Now that our government has considered cutting EPA funding by almost a third in the 2018 budget, the interests of Republicans and Democrats alike are at risk.
I am serving my third term as mayor of Dunlap, Tenn., - a beautiful town in between the Cumberland Plateau and Walden's Ridge, and a place without significant environmental problems. However, not everyone in our state has the benefit of that.
We need a healthier environment, and we need a healthier economy. And the truth is that these things are not opposing ideas. Those are two things that benefit each other.
So, perhaps, we should think twice about cutting more than a third of EPA's funding. Indeed, the agency is already spread too thin. The EPA budget already has been repeatedly cut by Congress in recent years and is already, in real dollars, close to its lowest level in 40 years. Further cuts will jeopardize programs that keep our water and air clean, and help our economy. We need to continue our progress in protecting the environment and creating jobs.
EPA could do a lot to make sure that Tennessee has more growth-friendly regulations and community investment. Last year, it invested $550,000 in community cleanup in Knoxville and Chattanooga. It did this with the goal of transforming "idle, languishing lands into vibrant hubs for business, jobs, and recreation."
Across the state, support for economic growth that keeps our communities free from pollution is gaining momentum. More than 75 business owners, opinion leaders and locally elected officials in Tennessee recently signed a letter addressed to our U.S. senators and representatives on the importance of maintaining America's clean energy economy. The letter states that not only does this sector promote business growth and new jobs, but it also makes our communities cleaner and safer.
The signers asked our elected members of Congress for four things: more economic opportunities for clean technology, regulations that make investing in a cleaner environment easier, the freedom for individuals and businesses to choose clean energy, and incentives for reduced pollution.
Chattanooga is a great example of economic and environmental health going hand in hand in Tennessee. The EPA once labeled it the "dirtiest city in America." It is now - thanks to local government leaders beginning with former Mayors Bob Corker and Ron Littlefield, and Mayor Andy Berke today - labeled the "Best Town Ever" for outdoor enthusiasts by Outside Enthusiasts magazine.
The city now has an electric shuttle system that serves one million passengers a year and a 300-bicycle sharing system. It's become a major hub for visiting nature lovers, with nearly 3 million tourists last year alone. And its economy is in great shape.
Republicans and Democrats are not as divided on this issue as one might think. As president of the Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council, I lead a bipartisan organization that includes more than 100 Tennessee mayors representing both parties who recognize and advocate for the economic opportunities that come with clean energy.
Children in Dunlap are not the only ones who should be able to breathe cleaner air, and citizens in Chattanooga are not the only ones who should reap the benefits of a revitalized economy. We all want what is best for the children in our communities and the employees in our economies. Investment in a clean, healthy environment accomplishes just that, and the EPA helps make it happen.
Dwain Land is mayor of Dunlap, Tenn.