The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations has advanced a budget bill that would provide $35.25 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Interior and related agencies for fiscal year 2019.
Overall funding under the bill, which was approved by the committee June 6 in a 25-20 vote, matches the fiscal-year 2018 enacted level. In a press release announcing the bill's advancement, the committee said the EPA portion of the bill will include policy provisions "to rein in harmful and unnecessary regulations" at the agency.
The EPA specifically will receive around $7.96 billion, a $100 million reduction from fiscal-year 2018 levels. That reduction includes $228 million less for the EPA's regulatory programs and will support the president's proposal to reshape the agency's workforce by providing resources to offer buyouts and voluntary separation agreements to employees. The bill includes a full repeal of the EPA's Clean Water Rule, more commonly referred to as the Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS.
"The Interior Subcommittee has made every effort to balance a host of competing needs and provided the Interior Department, EPA and other agencies under our jurisdiction with the resources necessary to carry out their mission," Interior Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert said.
Democrats on the committee all voted against the bill's advancement because of its cuts to the EPA's budget and certain riders they view as harmful. They specifically objected to the rejection of an amendment that would have provided the EPA's Inspector General with more funds to investigate EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
But Democrats were successful in getting through an amendment that prohibits funding for the EPA to purchase fountain pens costing more than $50 each. That amendment, which was put forth by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, is in response to a report that Pruitt spent more than $1,500 on 12 fountain pens from a jewelry store in Washington, D.C.
Other amendments passed by voice vote include language encouraging the EPA to review the backlog of applications related to biogas fuel pathways under the Renewable Fuel Standard and prohibiting funding for the Interior Department to issue a final rule on the Bi-State district population of the greater Sage Grouse. A further amendment would ensure that trust and treaty obligations related to Alaska Native oil and gas revenue sharing are met.
With the Appropriations Committee's blessing, the bill now heads to a floor vote.
