US House Approves Energy and Water Bill with 9% Funding Cut

Provides $30.4 billion to the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation; the Senate appropriated $34.5 billion

Aed 10910366

On July 10, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that would provide funding for the nation’s energy and water development programs in Fiscal Year 2014.

The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2609) would provide $30.4 billion to the Energy Department, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other related agencies. The legislation is $2.9 billion less than 2013 appropriated levels, with such cuts made possible by agency consolidations and rolling back of government regulations.

On the other side of Capitol Hill, the Senate is currently considering its version of the bill, S. 1245, which would provide $34.5 billion and would increase investment in renewables and energy efficiency programs by 25 percent.

The Senate is unlikely to approve the House legislation, which President Obama has also threatened to veto.

On a related issue, earlier this year the Senate passed Water Resources Development Act legislation (S. 601) to reauthorize Army Corps dam, flood control, and other infrastructure projects. AED and its allies are lobbying House members to vote on parallel legislation so that a final bill can be signed into law by the end of the year.

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