November 10, 2005

Appropriations Season: Updates from Capitol Hill

The appropriations bill that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cleared one more hurdle yesterday when the House of Representatives voted to adopt the latest version of the bill. This version, known as a "conference report," was crafted during an early November conference committee attended by delegates from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

The Senate is expected to vote on this conference report during the early part of next week. If that chamber chooses to follow suit with the House and adopt the report, it will be sent next to President Bush to await his signature.

Included is a full $5 million in funding for NOAA's Office of Education and Sustainable Development. Given that this money had not been included in the budget proposed by President Bush in early 2005, this funding restoration will be a significant victory for the environmental education community once the bill is signed into law.