Hoping to secure funding for recruiting and retaining wildland firefighters, the Department of the Interior (DOI) proposed $18.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2024 was examined during an oversight hearing on Wednesday.
Of the $2 billion increase, $438.5 million would go toward fixed-cost increases such as rent and salary adjustments as discussed at the live hearing. Almost $1.7 billion of the total budget is earmarked for the department's Wildland Fire Management programs.
DOI Secretary Deb Haaland appeared before the House Committee on Natural Resources to defend the Biden Administration’s budget request for the department and discuss how it also would help the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs.
“This administration has made a steadfast commitment to strengthen government-to-government relationships with tribal nations,” Haaland said of the $5.6 billion request for BIA programs. “We also request $1.6 billion for Indian education programs to support seven school projects.”
In addition, she said the budget request will address climate challenges and build resilience by ensuring water and power to the American West.
“These investments are crucial as wildfires were higher in 2022 than the 10-year average,” Haaland said. “Overall, the president’s budget for the interior invests in budgets to strengthen our nation for all Americans.”
Haaland was asked about the Biden Administration's new regulatory actions that could impede production on federal lands.
“We are working hard on a transition to clean energy despite oil production on federal lands being at an all-time high,” she said.
Haaland added that the proposed budget builds on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act designed to spearhead the nation’s economy by generating jobs and supporting local and tribal communities, building resilience to climate change and managing important natural resources.
This was the first time Haaland appeared before the House Committee on Natural Resources in approximately two years.
The requested budget includes $2.5 billion that would go toward protecting biodiversity through initiatives such as restoring habitats for fish and other wildlife. The budget also includes increased funding for renewable energy projects, both onshore and offshore, according to the 2024 DOI budget in brief.
Taking the lead of the House Natural Resources Committee are Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ).
The committee has jurisdiction over forest reserves, national parks, fisheries, wildlife, irrigation, relations with Native American tribes, military parks, national cemeteries, mining interests, mineral land laws, coastal zone management, oceanography and public lands in general.
