Cramer: Appropriations Bill Funds Interior, Environment, Financial and General Government Services

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer supported the appropriations bill funding a broad cross-section of the federal government with the passage of H.R. 6147, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Interior, Environment, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, in the House of Representatives today.

This bill provides a total of $58.67 billion in total discretionary budget authority for agencies within the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. This includes $35.25 billion for the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies and $24.42 billion for the financial services and general government provisions.

"This is a very broad appropriations bill funding many programs benefitting North Dakotans, and impacting our national parks, community water programs, and oil and gas production," said Cramer. "It includes a full repeal of the Waters of the U.S. regulation, and prohibits use of funds to enforce any Obama Administration methane regulations. It also continues to address our efforts to reduce regulatory red tape, protect national resources, and improve drinking water programs in communities. I am pleased specific appropriations prioritize law enforcement and safety, encourage responsible spending and reform several programs helping grow and develop America's small businesses."

Included in the bill are the following highlights of appropriations to agencies which impact citizens in the state:

National Park Service (NPS) -- Includes $3.25 billion for the NPS, an increase of $50 million above the fiscal year 2018 level, including an additional $50 million in funding for park operations, $175 million increase above fiscal year 2018 levels to address longstanding deferred maintenance needs.

Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation -- Reflects the Administration's goal to rein in outdated, unnecessary and potentially harmful regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including a full repeal of WOTUS.

EPA Budget Cuts -- Funds Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at $7.958 billion, $100 million below the fiscal year 2018 level. Within this total, EPA's regulatory programs are reduced by $228 million below the current level. The legislation supports the President's proposal to reshape the Agency's workforce by providing resources requested to offer buyouts and voluntary separation agreements to employees. Includes an amendment prohibiting enforcement of the Obama Administration's Methane Rule.

Clean Water Programs -- Targets additional funding provided by the recent budget agreement to infrastructure programs, including $2.6 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan fund, which states and localities use for water infrastructure projects.

Fighting the Opioid Epidemic -- Contains $415 million for the Office of National Drug Control Policy for High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and $118 million for other federal drug control programs.

Native American Programs -- Increases the federal commitment to honoring government-to-government treaty and Trust agreements. The Indian Health Service is funded at $5.9 billion, $370 million above the fiscal year 2018 level. The Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Indian Education are funded at $3.1 billion, $40 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level.

Federal Payments to Local Communities -- Provides $500 million for "Payments In Lieu of Taxes" (PILT), $35 million above the budget request. PILT provides funds for local governments in 49 states to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their counties. Without congressional action, many rural communities would face huge budget shortfalls impacting public safety, education, and other local government responsibilities.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -- Provides $1.4 billion for the BLM, an increase of $55 million above the FY 2018 enacted level. BLM programs include: soil, water, and air management, rangeland management, wild horse and burro management, recreation management, resource protection and maintenance, resource management planning, the national landscape conservation system, and other various programs. This funding includes $60 million for sage grouse conservation and $200 million for energy and mineral development programs.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Resource Management -- Provides $1.6 billion for FWS, an $11 million decrease below the FY18 enacted levels. Significant investments continue to be made to reduce the deferred maintenance backlogs within the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System, and an increase in funding to recover and delist threatened and endangered species.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) -- Includes $1.2 billion for the USGS, $19 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level. Funding is targeted to critical infrastructure investments in natural hazards programs, streamgages, the groundwater monitoring network, and critical materials mapping activities.

Small Business Administration (SBA) -- Includes $741 million for the SBA to help promote opportunities for American small businesses to begin, grow, and prosper, with funding to support small business loans, veterans programs, Women's Business Centers, and Small Business Development Centers.

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