Senate continues assault against EPA, Interior

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill. The proposal allocates $31.06 billion — $2.2 billion below the president’s budget request — and includes riders designed to undermine key regulatory actions, including the Waters of the U.S. rule, President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, and new standards for fracking on public lands.

The House version of the bill, which includes many of the same riders and even lower spending levels, is expected to receive a floor vote as early as next week.

Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Campaigner Lukas Ross issued the following statement in response:

This proposal is monstrous. Armed with policy riders in one hand and draconian spending levels in the other, Republican leadership continues its assault on our bedrock environmental protections. Stopping this bill in its tracks is a red line for protecting our air, our water and our climate.

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Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]