Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2025 bill for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 28th at 8:00 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.
Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) said, “As Chairman of this subcommittee, I promised to draft a bill that protects important programs that states and local communities rely on. To achieve this, I have once again authored language that fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, makes critical investments for our Tribes, and prioritizes funding for Wildland Fire Management, including permanently addressing wildland firefighter pay. At the same time, I promised to craft a fiscally responsible bill that reins in unnecessary federal spending and one that rejects President Biden’s misguided regulatory agenda. I am proud that the Fiscal Year 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Act does just that by encouraging energy independence, expanding access to domestic resource production, and reining in the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.”
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “This bill delivers essential resources for our public lands and supports an all-of-the-above energy approach – all while cutting millions in wasteful spending. Time and time again, the Administration has shown its desire to grow government and implement heavy-handed policies that make life more difficult for the American people. I am proud that this measure reverses many of the Executive Branch’s misguided rules and regulations. The legislation also safeguards the sacred oath this nation made to protect Native American communities. Chairman Simpson’s approach has been clear: we can both unleash and conserve vital resources through targeted and fiscally responsible investments.”
Fiscal Year 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $38.478 billion, which is $72 million (0.2%) below the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and $4.407 billion (10%) below the President’s Budget Request. The bill also rescinds $55 million of Department of the Interior funding for the Presidio Trust provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program and prioritizes funding for Tribes and Wildland Fire Management, including permanently addressing wildland firefighter pay. In addition, the bill provides a $2.75 billion fire suppression cap adjustment as authorized.
The bill meets the programmatic needs while rightsizing agency funding levels, including a $1.82 billion (20%) reduction to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Key Takeaways
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here
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