Comparison of Appropriations Language for FY2018 and FY2019
Comparison of Appropriations Language for FY2018 and FY2019
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Language: Comparing FY2018, FY2019 House and FY2019 Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate each passed spending bills funding the Department of Energy and other agencies in a three-measure package called a “mini-bus” recently. The House passed H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 on June 8, while the Senate version, S. 2975, passed June 25. The chambers could consider the three-bill package in a conference committee as soon as mid-July. Conferees are yet to be named. The Alliance advocated for not only robust funding for R&D and energy efficiency programs within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), but also suggested language to the respective committees for the committee reports accompanying the spending packages. These suggestions were widely accepted, often whole cloth, in the Energy-Water reports. Suggestions accepted by the Senate included rejection of the administration’s attempt to eliminate the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E); support for the Weatherization Assistance Program, robust funding for the Equipment and Buildings Standards and Building Energy Codes Program for improving resilience; systems efficiency efforts including district energy systems and combined heat and power (CHP); transportation efficiency; and workforce prioritization. The House included Alliance language supporting the DOE’s continued role in the ENERGY STAR program, and timely disbursement of ARPA-E funding and Weatherization Assistance funds. Both chambers accepted Alliance language supporting holistic energy research including deployment and demonstration projects, rejecting a sole focus on early-stage R&D as proposed in the president’s budget.
Click here to access the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Fact Sheet (PDF)
Interior and Environment Appropriations Language: Comparing FY2018, FY2019 House and FY2019 Senate
Separately, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees each sent the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills for FY 2019 to their respective chamber’s floors. The House advanced H.R. 6147 on June 6, while the Senate committee reported S. 3073 June 14. Neither chamber has scheduled floor time for the bills, which are likely to be combined into a mini-bus as well. Alliance-suggested language accepted for the reports accompanying the bill funding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included the House-approved rejection of fee-based funding for the ENERGY STAR program, and support for other voluntary programs including WaterSense by both chambers.
Click here to access the Interior and Environment Appropriations Fact Sheet (PDF)
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