Senate appropriators advance $38.4 billion energy spending bill

Senate appropriators on Thursday sent a $38.4 billion energy and water spending bill to the chamber’s floor that is $4 billion more than President Trump’s budget request.

The Appropriations Committee approved the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for fiscal 2018 with a near unanimous 30-1 vote, with some Democrats choosing to delay their push to boost renewable energy spending until the bill comes up for a final vote on the floor.