In late July, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2015 Chairman?s recommendation and explanatory statement for the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Under the spending bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would get $8.2 billion in 2015, including $1.45 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $906 million for the Drinking Water SRF.
The Senate version of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill would provide the EPA almost $300 million more than it requested, including a nearly $600 million boost to infrastructure assistance grants. The House version of the bill would provide $7.5 billion for the EPA, including $1 billion for the CWSRF and $757 million for the DWSRF.

The Senate measure would also increase spending for the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative by $1.2 million and boost funding by $964 million for ?safe and sustainable water resources? research over 2014 water levels.

?Today we release the Chairman?s mark of the Fiscal Year 2015 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,? said Subcommittee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)?in a joint statement.

?While we recognize that Congress is still debating proposals relating to the wildland firefighting budget that could significantly impact our work, we want to offer this draft document as an important step towards the negotiation of a fiscally responsible and balanced Fiscal Year 2015 Interior appropriations bill. This draft bill supports key programs to protect the health of our economy and environment and we are committed to working together with our colleagues on the complex issues in this bill to better manage our nation?s resources.?

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2015 Chairman?s recommendation and explanatory statement for the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Under the spending bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would get $8.2 billion in 2015, including $1.45 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $906 million for the Drinking Water SRF.

The Senate version of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill would provide EPA almost $300 million more than it requested, including a nearly $600 million boost to infrastructure assistance grants. The House version of the bill would provide $7.5 billion for the EPA, including $1 billion for the CWSRF and $757 million for the DWSRF.

The Senate measure would also increase spending for the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative by $1.2 million and boost funding by $964 million for ?safe and sustainable water resources? research over 2014 levels.

Subcommittee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I)?and?Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)?issued the following joint statement:

??Today we release the Chairman?s mark of the Fiscal Year 2015 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. While we recognize that Congress is still debating proposals relating to the wildland firefighting budget that could significantly impact our work, we want to offer this draft document as an important step towards the negotiation of a fiscally responsible and balanced Fiscal Year 2015 Interior appropriations bill. This draft bill supports key programs to protect the health of our economy and environment and we are committed to working together with our colleagues on the complex issues in this bill to better manage our nation?s resources.?