July 29, 2005

Appropriations Season: Updates from Capitol Hill

EPA

On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 410-10 to approve conference reports on the FY 2006 Interior appropriations bill. As mentioned in our July 27th update, this $26 billion measure will provide $7.7 billion for the EPA, a $294 million cut from FY 2005 funding levels.

While the roll call vote seems to indicate a strong level of House support, many members expressed general displeasure with the funding levels included in the bill. Nine Republicans voted against it, citing the conference spending level as an unacceptable $52 million in excess of their original House bill. Democrats meanwhile criticized the bill for cuts to core programs. Regardless, the measure's wide support was the result of an attached $1.5 billion in emergency funds designated to cover unexpected shortfalls in the Veterans Affairs health care budget.

Senate Majority Leader Frist expects the Senate to clear the Interior conference reports today. This will make the Interior appropriations bill the first FY 2006 spending measure to arrive on President Bush's desk in time for the August recess.