Appropriations Committee Releases the Fiscal Year 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill
Press Release
The House Appropriations Committee today released the fiscal year 2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation includes funding for the Department of the Interior, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Service, and various independent and related agencies.
In total, the bill includes $27.5 billion in spending -- a reduction of $2.1 billion below last year's level and $3.8 billion below the President's budget request. Overall, this funding level is $106 million below fiscal year 2009 spending levels. The legislation also includes a total cut to climate change programs of $83 million -- or 22% -- from last year, and decreases land acquisition funding by $239 million -- or 79%.
In addition, the legislation unveiled today also includes several provisions aimed at reining in out-of-control federal bureaucracies and overly burdensome regulations that harm American businesses and hinder economic recovery.
"Americans are sick to death of excessive government spending and regulation that is pushing us further and further away from economic recovery. This bill pinpoints and cuts extraneous, duplicative and unnecessary spending, prioritizes funding for programs with the most benefit to American families and businesses, and helps put a stop to free-wheeling government over-regulation," House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson added, "At a time when we borrow 40 cents for every dollar we spend, our government can't afford to continue on its recent spending binge with its head in the sand when it comes to our fiscal challenges. In this bill we face those challenges head on, setting priorities and distinguishing between what is necessary and what would just be nice to do -- something American families do every day. The bill reins in out-of-control regulation and provides the certainty that our economy needs to make a strong recovery."
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