07.25.24

Senate Committee Approves FY 2025 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill

 

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing support for tribal programs, National Parks, public lands, and federal efforts to suppress wildfires.

 

The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 28-1, provides $41.9 billion in discretionary funding.  The bill also includes nearly $2.8 billion in funding provided through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment.   

 

“From programs geared toward providing clean drinking water and wastewater assistance to those that support the conservation and management of our national parks and public lands, this bill invests in an array of important initiatives,” said Senator Collins.  “The legislation also funds important tribal programs and wildfire suppression.”

 

“Clean drinking water is a basic necessity – no exceptions. I am proud to use my leadership position on the Interior Appropriations Committee to champion investment towards running water and wastewater infrastructure across Alaska,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski, Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.  “From Wasilla to Unalaska, these upgrades will ensure communities have clean, reliable drinking water for years to come.”

 

Bill Highlights:

 

Department of the Interior: $15.8 billion for supporting management of National Parks, Refuges, and Forests, conservation and energy development on public lands and waters, and tribal trust responsibilities.

 

  • National Park Service: $3.5 billion to support our nation’s parks, preserve historic sites, and increase staffing capacity to address visitor services and park management needs.

 

  • Indian Affairs (BIA and BIE): $4.1 billion, including increases for important social service programs, education programs, and construction.  Contract support costs (CSC) and tribal lease payments are fully funded.

 

  • Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): PILT is fully funded to provide communities in 49 states and in the territories compensation for lost tax revenues resulting from federal land ownership within their jurisdiction.

 

Wildland Fire Management: $6.4 billion is included for wildland fire management activities, including $8 million to address firefighter housing shortages, $4 million for wellness programs, and bill language to permanently fix wildland firefighter pay to prevent pay cuts for these frontline workers.  Nearly $2.8 billion of this funding is made available through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment.    

 

Environmental Protection Agency: $9.3 billion in grants and program funding, including $4.4 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants. 

 

Indian Health Services: $8.5 billion, which includes funding for staffing new facilities and health care delivery services. CSC and tribal lease payments are fully funded. 

 

Smithsonian Institution: $1.1 billion, including additional funding for the American Women’s History Museum and National Museum of the American Latino. 

 

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $209 million for each Endowment.

 

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