Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to support this 5th of the 12 bills to be considered on the floor. This morning, the committee marked up the 11th of the 12 bills, and, tomorrow, the Committee on Appropriations will mark up the 12th bill so that those bills are ready for floor action. We would have been well on the way to completing all of these bills on the floor but for the abbreviated legislative year in which we have found ourselves because of the conventions and other legislation.

This bill provides nearly $32.1 billion for agencies that are charged with managing and protecting our natural resources and our Federal lands as well as Native American programs and other independent agencies.

Within this total, $3.9 billion is dedicated to fighting devastating wildfires--fully funding the 10-year average and increasing funding for programs that help prevent fires from happening in the first place.

The bill increases funding for our commitments to American Indians and Alaska Natives, addressing public safety, health, and education, among other important services.

For rural communities that have nontaxable Federal lands and, as a result, face huge budget shortfalls that would hurt local government functions, the bill provides full funding for the payments in lieu of taxes program.

This legislation also makes good use of the congressional power of the purse by cutting the EPA by $164 million and slashing its regulatory programs to help stop this administration's heavy handed, onerous regulatory agenda.

Communities across the country rely on coal and other energy production for good jobs, and hardworking Americans expect reasonable energy bills to take care of their families. Relief from the EPA's job- killing regulations is paramount to the economic growth that our country desperately needs right now; so I am proud that the bill takes the necessary steps to cut this red tape.

This includes prohibiting funds to change the definition of ``waters'' under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or to enforce the proposed Stream Buffer Zone Rule. The legislation also bars the EPA from implementing new greenhouse gas regulations on power plants, and it provides flexibility for States to implement new ozone standards.

In all, Mr. Chairman, this is a balanced bill. It invests taxpayer dollars in the right priorities and protects against the administration's harmful regulatory policies, which helps to ensure a brighter future for our Nation.

I congratulate and thank the chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Calvert has done a wonderful job, I think, on constructing this bill. It is a good bill that deserves all of our support, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source