An inadequate nondefense allocation results in a bill with damaging cuts to critical investments in clean energy, advanced energy research, and nuclear nonproliferation; as well as several divisive policy riders.
2018 mark: $37.6 billion
2018 budget request: $34.3 billion
2017 enacted: $37.8 billion
*While overall budget authority appears to be only a slight reduction from FY2017, the Chairman’s mark would increase defense funding by $1.1 billion and reduce nondefense funding by $1.3 billion.
The Chairman’s mark provides:
* $1.1 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is $986 million less than the FY2017 enacted level.
* $5.4 billion for the Department of Energy Office of Science, which is equal to the 2017 enacted level.
* $218.5 million for activities to modernize the electricity grid and defend the U.S. energy sector against cyber and other attacks, which is $11.5 million than the 2017 enacted level.
* $6.4 billion to clean up contamination from past nuclear weapons research and production activities, which is $25 million less than the 2017 enacted level.
* $10.2 billion for Weapons Activities, which is $994 million more than the 2017 enacted level.
* $1.8 billion for Nuclear Nonproliferation, which is $106 million less than the 2017 enacted level.
* $1.5 billion for Naval Reactors, which is $66 million more than the 2017 enacted level.
* $6.2 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is $120 million more than the FY2017 enacted level.
** Of those funds, $1.34 billion is for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund projects, which is $40 million more than the FY2017 enacted level and equal to the target established by the Water Resources Reform and Development Act.
* $1.2 billion for water resources projects within the Department of Interior, which is $79 million less than the 2017 enacted level.
The Chairman’s mark would completely eliminate:
* Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), which received $306 million in FY2017.
* Title 17 Innovative Loan Guarantee Program, which received $7 million in FY2017. In addition, the bill rescinds all loan authority and appropriated subsidy.
The Chairman’s mark provides $120 million to the Department of Energy and $30 million to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for licensing activities related to Yucca Mountain. It also carries provisions prohibiting use of funds to take any action related to closure of Yucca Mountain; and funding for interim storage activities.
The mark includes controversial riders hindering the Corps of Engineers ability to prevent water pollution.
* Authorization to withdraw the Waters of the United States rule without regard to any other provision of law.
* Prohibiting the Corps of Engineers from requiring permits for certain agricultural practices.
The mark includes a rider allowing firearms to be carried on all Corps of Engineers lands.
The mark includes a rider prohibiting funds to develop a National Ocean Policy, which would prevent federal agencies from coordinating with each other on fishing regulations, port and harbor issues, and many other maritime challenges.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
