In total, the draft bill includes $43.4 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $7.3 billion - 20.2 percent - above 2021. There is also an additional $2.45 billion of funding for fire suppression. The legislation:
* Creates good-paying American jobs through investments in renewable energy development, including offshore wind, and a national initiative to reclaim abandoned mines and cap orphan oil and gas wells
* Confronts the climate crisis by expanding environmental enforcement efforts, creating a Civilian Climate Corps, and launching a renewed focus on land and water conservation
* Supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and health care programs
* Dramatically expands environmental justice efforts to address unacceptable pollution in communities of color
* Honors the federal government’s responsibilities to Native Americans
The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.
“House Democrats continue making long-overdue investments to care for our planet, fight the climate emergency, return science as the foundation for decision making, and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations," Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), said. The Fiscal Year 2022 bill builds upon last year’s successes to advance the priorities of the American people - ensuring we have clean air and water, protecting our natural resources, preserving biodiversity for future generations, and taking meaningful actions to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goals to simultaneously address climate change and create good-paying jobs across America."
“The American people understand that confronting the climate crisis can be a pathway to creating good-paying jobs and inclusive economic growth. That’s exactly what House Democrats are doing with this bill’s critical investments in a green economy," Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “With offshore wind development, reclamation of abandoned mines, and a Civilian Climate Corps, we can turn a challenge into an opportunity. I am also pleased that this bill increases funding for environmental enforcement, so we can crack down on polluters who all too often escape the consequences for the damage they cause. I am also very proud that this bill supports Native American families with investments in education and health and fosters equity with a focus on environmental justice."
A summary of the bill is here. The text of the draft bill is. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee’s commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
