2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2025 Interior-Environment
Appropriations. In July 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against , according to
Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would provide
$42.2 billion in discretionary funding for the EPA, U.S. Forest
Service, Interior Department agencies and related programs--$38.5
billion of which would fall under discretionary spending caps and $2.75
billion under the wildfire suppression cap adjustment. The bill would
provide $7.4 billion in funding for the EPA. [...] It also would
provide $15.1 billion for the Interior Department, including $3.1
billion for the National Park Service and $1.3 billion for the Bureau
of Land Management. It would provide $8.4 billion for the U.S. Forest
Service. [...] It would provide $204 million each for the National
Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The bill also includes $1 billion in earmarks for 895 projects
requested by members." The vote was on passage. The House rejected the
bill by a vote of 178 to 234. [House Vote 399,
7/24/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/24/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8998]
The Bill Restricted The EPA From Implementing Various Standards
And Fees. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would restrict
the EPA from taking numerous actions, including finalizing or
implementing emissions standards, imposing certain methane fees on
oil and gas producers, as well as implementing vehicle fuel
standards." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/24]
The Bill Required The Department Of The Interior To Resume The
Issuance Of Oil And Gas Leases, Prohibited The Cancellation Of
Leases, Required The Reinstatement Of Two Mineral Mining Leases In
Minnesota, And Prohibited Certain Species From Being Listed As
Endangered. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would
require the Interior Department to resume issuing offshore oil and
gas leases and prohibit the cancellation of leases in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge or National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. It
would require the BLM to reinstate two mineral mining leases in the
Superior National Forest in Minnesota and it would prohibit certain
species from being designated as endangered or threatened under the
Endangered Species Act and require the gray wolf to be delisted."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/24]
Overall Funding Was Cut By .2 Percent From The Previous Fiscal
Year With The EPA Base Budget Facing A 20% Cut, The Smithsonian A
12% Cut, The National Parks Service A 6% Cut, And The Council On
Environmental Quality An 80% Cut. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The base bill would provide about $38.5 billion for the
EPA, most of the Interior Department and a range of environmental
and cultural agencies, from the Smithsonian Institution to the
National Endowment for the Arts. From a technical accounting
standpoint, that's a slight trim, about $72 million, or about 0.2
percent on average, from the current fiscal year's comparable
level. Some parts of the bill would be cut more deeply than others:
EPA's base budget would be sliced by 20 percent, the Smithsonian by
12 percent and the National Park Service would take a 6 percent hit.
The relatively tiny Council on Environmental Quality would see its
funding cut by nearly 80 percent, down to just $1 million."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/24]
Partisan Amendments Banned The EPA From Implementing Or Allowing
Certain Vehicle Standards And Prohibited Funding For The EPA's
Justice, Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion Workgroup. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "These included amendments to bar the EPA
from implementing its heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards;
another that would prohibit funds for the EPA's Justice, Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion Workgroup; and one that would bar the EPA
from allowing California to set more stringent standards for
locomotive emissions." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/24/24]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Prohibiting The Use Of
Interior-Environment Funds For Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion
Programs. In July 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against , according to
Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 25 that would prohibit the use
of funds under the bill for diversity, equity and inclusion programs."
The vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY
2025 Interior-Environment appropriations. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 211 to 202. [House Vote 388,
7/24/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/24/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1145;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8998]