Appropriations Committee Approves the Fiscal Year 2013 Interior-Environment Appropriations Funding Bill
Washington,
Jun 28 -
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2013 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The legislation includes funding for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Service, and various independent and related agencies.
In total, the bill includes $28 billion in funding – a cut of $1.2 billion below last year’s level and $1.7 billion below the President’s budget request. The legislation also includes legislative provisions that will address the overreach of federal agencies, such as the EPA, that mandate overly burdensome regulatory hurdles that hinder job creation and inhibit the ability of American businesses to grow and thrive.
“This bill addresses threats to our natural resources and wildlife, bolsters public safety, and nurtures economic growth and domestic energy production. And, this bill wisely places a limit on big-government excess – cutting funding for programs and agencies that stifle economic growth rather than encourage it –including reducing the EPA’s budget by 17%,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
"While the bill makes significant spending reductions across many agencies and programs, it also prioritizes funding to address the needs of several key accounts, such as wildfire suppression, national parks, and Native American programs,” Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson said, “Wherever I go, the biggest complaint I hear about the Federal government is how the EPA is creating economic uncertainty and killing jobs. This bill includes provisions to address some of these issues.”
The following amendments to the FY 2013 Interior/Environment Appropriations bill were approved by the full committee today:
Rep. Simpson – The manager’s amendment makes technical and non-controversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Flake – The amendment adds a provision directing the Forest Service to expedite requests for post-wildfire rehabilitation and restoration activities in areas recovering from large scale fires. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Carter – The amendment adds a provision requiring the fish and wildlife service to reissue a final “three antelope species” rule and exempts further judicial review. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Aderholt – The amendment requires municipalities to follow “Buy American” requirements for iron and steel when funding projects through the Clean Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Rehberg – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to implement or administer a lead paint regulation until it approves a commercially available lead paint test kit. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 27-20.
Rep. Austria – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to finalize a new greenhouse gas emissions standard for cars after model year 2017. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 26-18.
Rep. LaTourette – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to implement a proposed rule to related to the labeling of pesticides. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Flake – The amendment adds report language criticizing the EPA for delaying state “regional haze” implementation plans, and directing the agency to report on the progress of its actions on these plans. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. LaTourette – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to administer or implement a rule – the “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos” – as it applies to residential buildings with four or fewer units. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Rep. Lummis – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to impose additional financial assurance requirements on hardrock mining companies. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 27-19.
Rep. Lummis – The amendment prohibits funding for the EPA to impose greenhouse gas “New Source Emissions Standards” on fossil-fueled electric utility plants. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 27-18.
Rep. Lummis – The amendment adds report language directing the EPA to update its guidance and solicit comments on updates for state “regional haze” plans. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
The fiscal year 2013 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill was approved by the full committee on a vote of 26-19.
For the text of the legislation, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-112hr-fc-ap-fy13-interior.pdf
For the Committee Report, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-112-ap-fy13-interior.pdf
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