Lowey Statement at Subcommitte Markup of 2015 Interior Appropriations Act

I thank Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Moran for your work on this bill. Chairman Calvert, congratulations on introducing your first bill and for following the Committee tradition of consulting the minority even if the outcome is not something we can support at this time.  During this last Interior and Environment Subcommittee markup for Mr. Moran, I am sorry to see him go and wish him success in all his future endeavors. We are losing a true stalwart for the environment.

           Of the eleven FY15 bills that have been released, this is perhaps the worst. Even though the allocation, $162 million more than the current level, was sufficient to produce a legitimate bill, the Majority squandered these additional resources.

The dramatic $717 million cut to the Environmental Protection Agency would endanger the health and safety of many communities in the name of protecting the bottom line of industries, many of which already benefit from corporate loopholes that put a heavier burden on middle class taxpayers.

For years, this Subcommittee has lamented the growing cost of fighting wildfires that crowds out other priorities. The former Chairman of this subcommittee has introduced a bill to remove some emergency wildfire costs from this bill and make them eligible for funding under the disaster budget cap. His bill is bi-partisan and is co-sponsored by 99 members, including many from this Committee. Yet wildfire costs are in this bill without an emergency designation even though most on our Committee believe fires are no less an emergency than hurricanes and tornadoes.

The Majority also funds the PILT program in this year’s bill for the first time since 2008. These payments in lieu of taxes have been mandatory spending since then to ensure that counties receive 100% of the authorized payment, which they weren’t receiving when it was last in our bill. Redesignating PILT as discretionary spending creates another funding shortfall in the bill and compromises our ability to better protect the environment and public health.

As a result, acquisition and assistance programs under the Land and Water Conservation Fund are cut by nearly 50%, the Heritage Area Partnership Program by nearly 50%, which includes the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in my district, and water infrastructure revolving loan funds by nearly 25%. And while the President’s request for additional resources for oil and gas inspections is included, it takes the funds from other Interior programs instead of making oil and gas companies pay for it out of their billions in profits!

In particular, I am strongly opposed to a number of legislative riders, which amount to an industry wish list of giveaways. For instance, there are two special provisions that enable mining companies to avoid cleaning up pollutants, leaving taxpayers on the hook. Once again, ranchers along with oil and gas companies get their wish to prevent the listing of the Sage Grouse on the Endangered Species list. And, in a demonstration of solidarity with climate change deniers and the coal industry, the majority prevents the Administration from advancing new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Lastly, while I am appreciative the Chairman maintained level funding for important geographic programs like the Long Island Sound, some of the increased resources in this bill should be used to better support these initiatives, which do such important work in so many of our districts.

I look forward to improving this bill as it progresses through the Congress.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.