The Environmental Protection Agency has said in announcement that it is providing $84,000 grant for a study that aims at churches and faith-based groups to bring awareness in members about the importance of fighting climate change.

A graduate fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is being supported by the public money. The aim is to back sustainability initiatives at 17 faith-based institutions so that workshops can be developed for religious leaders to teach their followers how work can be carried out to battle climate change.

A bill in congress is intended to not allow the Environmental Protection Agency to impose regulations by using secret science. Republicans are supporting the bill, saying transparency is required in the EPA science. Democrats, on the other hand, say that it is not right to have a bill that undermines efforts to protect public health.

The House of Representatives gave a green signal to its Secret Science Reform Act, HR1030, in March. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will see various pieces of legislation on Tuesday, April 28. Its version of the Secret Science Reform Act, S544, will also draw attention.

S544 was introduced by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. in February. Among the seven cosponsors were Senate EPW Committee Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.

EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made joint efforts to ensure 20% reduction in emissions and 20% improvement in fuel economy during 2014-2018 window. This brought the first-ever comprehensive greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards for heavy trucks in 2011. The regulation is known as GHG Phase I.

The agencies are likely to soon issue GHG Phase II to make rules for fuel economy and emissions stricter beyond model year 2018.