Last Friday, the House Appropriations Committee approved the $36.8 billion funding bill for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other agencies on a party-line vote of 30-19. The Committee sent the measure (HR 7612) to the floor after voting down a handful of Republican-sponsored amendments seeking to strip provisions that would block Trump Administration environmental policies at the EPA. The package, which will represent House Democrats’ ante to funding negotiations with Senate Republicans and the White House, has been characterized as a nonstarter by Congressional Republicans for emergency spending included in appropriations measures. The measure now heads to the House floor for consideration where Democratic leaders hope to complete votes on the full slate of funding measures by the end of the month. Click here for the Bill Summary; and, click here for HR. 7612 Bill Text.

 

RCRC Priorities of interest included in the package include:

$1.6 billion for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an increase of $37 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $201 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes $78 million for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants,an increase of $11 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $47 million above the President’s budget request.

 

$4.36 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, an increase of $119 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $1.52 billion above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:

  • $2.76 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, equal to the enacted level and $782 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $189 million for targeted grants for drinking water contaminants and wastewater treatment for lead, nitrates, and other health hazards, an increase of $36 million above the enacted level and $86 million above the request.
  • $90 million for Brownfields cleanups, a $1 million increase above the FY 2020 enacted level and $10 million increase above the President’s budget request.
  • $90 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction grants, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $80 million above the President’s budget request.

 

Land and Water Conservation Fund – The bill does not contain discretionary funding but rather provides allocations for the estimated $900 million which will be made available in FY 2021.

Wildland Fire Management – The bill provides $5.73 billion, which includes $2.35 billion in cap adjusted fire suppression funding. The total funding is $174.13 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $35.45 million below the President’s budget request.

Related Agencies – $3.13 billion for the Forest Service, an increase of $134.2 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $196.71 million above the President’s budget request.

Additional Infrastructure Investments – In addition to the investments made in the above titles, the bill provides an additional $15 billion in emergency infrastructure investments for the Bureau of Indian Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and Indian Health Service.

 

$13 billion in additional funds for Environmental Protection Agency infrastructure grants, including:

  • $10.2 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
  • $1 billion for Superfund program for site remediation.
  • $950 million for targeted water infrastructure grants for lead pipe replacement, sewer overflow control, and for small and disadvantaged communities.
  • $350 million for Brownfields grants.
  • $450 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction (DERA) grants.