Energy & Water, Interior & EPA
Appropriators are looking at raising overall budget caps to allow the increases in spending that legislators are pushing for.
Both Interior-EPA and the Energy & Water bills are expected to have significant (~4%) increases from FY19 based on the House bills.
Energy & Water
FY19 – $44.6
FY20 – $46.4
Interior & EPA
FY19 – $35.6
FY20 – $37.3
While the House has moved swiftly to put together about of the 12 spending bills Congress must pass, the Senate has stalled, with none currently in the works.
- The House will have a markup of the Energy & Water bill at noon on Wednesday, May 15th (2362-B Rayburn). WATCH IT HERE
- The House will have a markup of the Interior – EPA bill at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th, (2008 Rayburn). WATCH IT HERE
Offshore Drilling
Offshore drilling, an act the majority of coastal legislators oppose, could be limited if House appropriators choose to reduce BOEM funding.
Is mother nature the best advocate for the Corps?
Sources tell us that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (EPA – Interior & EPA Bill) will fare well in this year’s round of appropriations. However, the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study (Corps of Engineers - E&W Bill) has stalled since last year when OMB decided that Kansas was ‘coastal’ and shifted funds that were intended for ‘coastal resiliency’ to study the Kansas City River study. Concern will persist this round as the Missouri River may become a greater priority based on the damage that occurred from the March mid-West floods than the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study.
Flood Insurance
Looks like Congress has procrastinated again on the NFIP. Another short-term extension will be the 11th short-term reauthorization in 2 years as Congress will likely vote to extend the program from the end of May until the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.
Supplemental
The House has passed a supplemental bill – HR 2157: Click here for a brief report.
New Bills in Congress
HRES 367 - Recognizing that climate change most severely impacts vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in the United States and around the world, and that it is the responsibility of the United States Government to work with its global partners to promote environmental justice and climate justice.
HR 2578 – To Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program
HR 2551 - To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. (Reintroduction of HR 3786 & Companion to S 1342)
