An open letter to Maine Representative Bruce Poliquin: The U.S. Congress is about to debate current budget proposals. The Environmental Protection Agency is slated to be cut by 31 percent and its climate research funding completely eliminated. The White House insists that saving taxpayers money and beefing up our national security are its main priorities.

It’s relevant, therefore, to assess President Trump's current living/travel expenses. In his first two months he has cost taxpayers over $100 million for weekend travel and other increased Secret Service security at Mara Lago, the White House, and at Trump Tower, where the Secret Service pays rent.

If his lifestyle/weekend demands continue he will have spent at least $600 million by the end of this year, at taxpayers’ expense, even as his own tax contribution is questionable because he refuses to release his tax returns.

In contrast, last year's EPA science research budget was $588 million. That means at the end of this year the president might spend well over last year's entire budget for science research at the EPA.

I'm asking you to join the U.S. House's Climate Solutions Caucus. By doing so you might at last demonstrate commitment to bipartisan support of protecting environmental sustainability, the lack of which, according to the Defense Department's own research since 2003, is one of the most destabilizing dangers in the world today.

Beverly Roxby lives in Belfast