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May 17th, 2006 - - Amendments Adopted in Full Committee:
(Visclosky): Increases funding for energy conservation and weatherization activities by $30 million offset by a corresponding reduction in GNEP.
FUNDING LEVELS:
The Chairman’s mark provides a total of $30 billion in budget authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Civil, the Department of Interior including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy, and several Independent Agencies. This bill is $172 million below last year’s level and $546 million above the President’s request.
CORPS OF ENGINEERS:
The Chairman’s mark supports a vigorous Civil Works program while focusing limited resources on completing high priority projects. The recommendation of $5 billion, $251 million above the President’s request and $345 million below last year’s level when adjusted for emergency supplementals. The bill continues a number of significant reforms to improve project execution and financial management, including more responsible use of reprogrammings, continuing contracts, and implementation of long-term financial planning.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION:
The budget request for Department of Interior activities funded in our bill — primarily for the Bureau of Reclamation — is $924 million and our Subcommittee recommendation is $941 million. This is an increase of $17 million over the request, and is $114 million below the fiscal year 2006 funding level. This includes $6 million to assess existing and future flood risks in the California Bay-Delta area near Sacramento and a five-year budget planning requirement for the Bureau.
ENERGY INITIATIVES:
The bill provides $24.373 billion for the Department of Energy, $327 million above the FY2006 level and $299 million above the request.
- The bill fully funds the American Competitiveness Initiative which would strengthen basic research by increasing funding for the DOE Office of Science, for a total of $4.132 billion. In addition, the bill supports the Advanced Energy Initiative by increasing funding for a variety of clean energy technologies, including biomass, hydrogen, solar, wind, and clean coal.
- The bill provides $150 million for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), the administration’s initiative on recycling spent nuclear fuel, $96 million below the request but at the level authorized in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
- Energy Supply and Conservation programs are funded at $2.0 billion, $102 million above FY06. The bill restores reductions in other essential energy programs, such as support for university nuclear energy education (funded at $27 million) and weatherization assistance (restoring $78 million cut for a total of $242.5 million).
- Fossil Energy research and development programs are funded at $558 million, an increase of $88.5 over the request, to include $54 million for FutureGen, and $36.4 million for the Clean Coal Power Initiative.
- The Bill funds the Yucca Mountain repository at $544.5 million. This includes $156.4 million for Nuclear Waste Disposal and $388 million for Defense Nuclear Waste Disposal. In addition, the Committee provides another $30 million for interim storage of spent fuel, subject to authorization.
- The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which includes the nuclear weapons program, defense nuclear nonproliferation, naval reactors and the Office of the Administrator, is funded at $9.2 billion, an increase of $95 million over last year and $116 million below the President’s request. Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation activities are funded at $1.6 billion, $22 million below FY06 and $133 million below the request. The bill provides $105 million for container screening at foreign ports, $65 million above the request. Weapons activities are funded at $6.4 billion, $42 million above FY06 and $4 million above the request. Within the Weapons Activities account, the bill targets $140 million for weapons complex reform and consolidation activities.
- Defense Environmental Cleanup programs are funded at $5.55 billion, an increase of $161.5 million over the request. The Chairman’s mark provides $600 million for the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. Non-defense Environmental Cleanup activities are funded at $309.9 million, a decrease of $0.4 million below the request.
- The Power Marketing Administrations are funded at $252 million, $18 million below last year and the same as the request.
- The Denali Commission total funding is $7.5 million. Appalachian Regional Commission is reduced by $30 million, total funding is $35.5 million The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is funded at $808.4 million, an increase of $40 million to provide for the anticipated growth in reactor license applications.
- The bill terminates the following programs:
- State energy program grants: $49.5 million
- Geothermal R&D technology: $23 million
- Natural gas R&D technologies: $20 million
- Construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant and the Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility at the Savannah Site: $368 million
- The bill reduces total earmarks by $200 million, or 16 percent, compared to last year’s House bill.
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