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EPA, Interior funding set for full committe markup
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Darren Samuelsohn and Dan Berman, E&E Daily senior reporters

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up legislation Thursday that would deliver significant funding increases to the Interior Department, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. EPA.
Democratic aides said the markup was "99 percent" certain for later this week. They did not expect any major amendments that shift spending levels for EPA or other agencies. "Not sure what more can be done," one aide said.
Last month, Democrats released sparse details on the fiscal 2008 bill during a subcommittee markup. The EPA section would fund the agency at $900 million above President Bush's budget request. At $8.1 billion, EPA is in line to receive a 5.1 percent boost over its current funding level of $7.7 billion and Bush's $7.2 billion request.
Global warming also factors into the EPA budget with language that would put lawmakers on record in favor of mandatory cuts on heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.
In subcommittee, Democrats sprinkled funding increases across EPA, most notably with the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The popular program's account gets pumped up to $1.125 billion, as compared with Bush's $688 million request. Funding for the CWSRF has been on a steady decline since fiscal 2003 when it hit an all-time high of $1.35 billion.
State and local air pollution agencies receive $220 million for fiscal 2008, as opposed to Bush's $185 million budget request. Other funding levels in the EPA bill: $600 million for Superfund cleanups; $140 million for drinking water and sewer infrastructure grants; $50 million for diesel engine retrofits; and $25 million for a targeted watershed program.
Addressing one high-profile issue, Democrats increased spending for EPA's Office of Inspector General to $53.5 million -- a $8.5 million jump over Bush's request. They also plan policy report language that would prohibit EPA from using its funding to lay off employees.
EPA's ongoing effort to shutter some of its regional and main libraries will not be factored into the House Democrats' budget, a House Democratic aide said.
Looking far ahead, Democrats appear headed toward a clash with a president who has vowed to veto spending bills that break his budget.
Speaking last month with reporters, Dicks acknowledged the long road ahead. "At some point, we will have to negotiate," he said. "We'll have to make some adjustments."
Climate language returns
On climate change, Democrats have added a nonbinding Sense of Congress that says the United States should address global warming without harming the economy while also engaging developing countries. Republicans stripped the same climate provision out of last year's House bill on procedural grounds.
This time around, Democrats expressed confidence they can keep it in their bill.
"We're in the majority," Dicks res

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