Appropriations Season: Updates from Capitol Hill

NOAA

Late last week, the full House of Representatives passed its FY 2006 Science, State, Justice, and Commerce (SSJC) bill. Although NOAA's overall budget took a rather deep cut (a decrease of 14% from FY 2005 levels), funding for the OESD was in fact included in the bill. This is a very encouraging sign for the ocean and environmental education fields. Stay tuned for further details!

The bill is now under consideration in the Senate, where NOAA has been known to experience significantly high levels of support. The bill's first stop was with appropriators on the Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday (June 21st). These appropriators have recommended that the full Senate Appropriations Committee increase NOAA's entire budget by $550.8 million--a sharp contrast from figures outlined in the House SSJC bill. The full committee is expected to address this recommendation on Thursday (June 23rd) of this week, including specifics on OESD funding.

EPA

In late May, the full House of Representatives passed its FY 2006 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. The bill included $9 million in funding for the OEE, a figure that represents nearly full restoration of the OEE budget.

The bill then moved to the Senate in June, where its appropriators recommended that the Senate's own Interior and Environment bill provide $7 million in funding for the OEE, a $2 million decrease in comparison to the House Interior spending bill. This bill currently awaits action on the Senate floor, a vote that may take place as early as next week. Once the bill does pass the full Senate, appropriators from both the House and the Senate will meet to reconcile any differences in the OEE budgets passed by their respective chambers.