The Environmental Protection Agency could see its budget reduced $164 million from last year and have its staffing level drop to the lowest point since 1989.
The Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill released Tuesday would fund the EPA at $7.98 billion, almost $300 million less than what President Obama asked for in his budget request. That includes the agency’s regulatory budget being dropped $43 million from fiscal 2016 and $187 million below what Obama asked for in his fiscal 2017 request.
The total appropriations bill, which includes funding for the Department of Interior, EPA, U.S. Forest Service, Indian Health Service and other agencies is a total of about $32.1 billion. That’s $64 million less than last year and $1 billion below Obama’s request.
The House Appropriations Committee’s Interior Subcommittee will consider the bill Wednesday.
“Job creation and wage growth continue to be stifled because American job creators wake up every day worrying about what new regulation the Obama administration will issue next,” Interior Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert said. “The EPA’s overreach continues to cause economic harm, and this bill denies funding for more job-killing regulators while providing necessary resources to effective programs that actually improve the environment and protect our natural resources.”
The bill also includes a number of provisions that will block EPA regulations. The bill would block the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, kill new methane regulations, prohibit regulation of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle and not allow the EPA to implement the Waters of the United States rule that is currently blocked by a federal court.
The bill does include some spending increases to help federal authorities cope with wildfires, lead contamination in drinking water and more money spent on the National Park Service.
The bill would fund firefighting and prevention programs for the Department of Interior and Forest Service at $3.9 billion. That’s $243 million more than last year’s spending.
The bill also would increase spending on the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which provides grants and low-interest loans to communities to improve drinking water infrastructure, to $2.1 billion. That’s more than $200 million above last year’s level.
The bill also includes $50 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation program, $109.7 million for state grants to improve operation and oversight of drinking water systems and $6.5 million for the EPA’s Office of Water.
“This is an important bill that will help promote the responsible use of our natural resources, protect against and fight devastating wildfires, and invest in federal programs and infrastructure that will improve the quality of life for families across the country,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
