House GOP’s Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill Threatens Human Health, Clean Air and Water

This week, the House is expected to consider the FY 2019 Interior-Environment appropriations bill as part of a two-bill minibus. This Republican bill puts the health and safety of the American people at risk by slashing critical funding for environmental protection. Ideological policy riders continue the assault on our environment by undermining protections for our land, water, air, and biodiversity. A full summary of the minibus is available here. Some of the worst provisions of the Interior-Environment division include that it:

• Cuts the Environmental Protection Agency by $100 million. Despite years of stagnant funding, the Republican bill cuts the EPA by $100 million — making it even harder for the agency to protect human health and the environment.

• Slashes clean water grant programs by $300 million. The Republican bill backtracks on investments in America’s water infrastructure by cutting $150 million each from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, both of which help communities keep water clean and healthy for families.

• Attacks endangered species and undermines the Endangered Species Act. The Republican bill includes riders that meddle with the evidence-based approach of the ESA by delisting several endangered or threatened species such as the sage grouse and gray wolf.

• Upends clean water protections. The Republican bill rescinds the Waters of the United States rule and creates vast exemptions to the Clean Water Act, threatening American families’ access to clean and healthy water.

• Threatens due process in environmental law. The Republican bill unnecessarily exempts California water projects from judicial review, threatening due process in the enforcement of bedrock environmental laws.