House passes Interior appropriations bill with numerous provisions Rep. Simpson authored

Idaho 2nd District GOP Congressman Mike Simpson, who serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, says the Interior appropriations bill that passed the House last week includes several provisions he authored that directly benefit Idaho.

Among them: The bill rolls back “onerous rules and regulations,” Simpson said; funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, which compensates areas with high percentages of federal land ownership; and fully funds wildfire suppression to ensure western states have the resources to battle catastrophic fires.

The Interior appropriations bill for 2019 passed the U.S. House on a 217-199 vote; it now moves to the Senate for consideration. Idaho’s other congressman, GOP 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador, voted against the bill.

Simpson is in a position to secure funding for Idaho projects as a member of the key panel and the chair of its subcommittee on energy and water development appropriations.

“Land managers have a duty to be good neighbors to Idahoans,” Simpson said in a statement. “That is why Congress needs to adequately fund these agencies to ensure that they have the resources to carry out their missions. The legislation passed by the House does that by funding PILT, wildfire prevention and suppression programs, and providing a check on the executive branch from past rules and regulations that have been a burden to communities across Idaho.”

Key items included in the bill that Simpson highlighted

Full funding of PILT at $500 million for fiscal year 2019, which is $35 million more than President Trump requested.

Full funding for wildfire suppression at the ten-year average of $3.9 billion for the Department of Interior and the Forest Service.

$655 million for hazardous fuels management, a $30 million increase from the current year; that’s aimed at preventing catastrophic wildfires.

Language that authorizes the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Secretary of the Army to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

Language that directs EPA, USDA, and DOE to establish clear policies that reflect the carbon neutrality of biomass.

A decrease in EPA funding by $100 million, specifically reducing the regulatory programs by $228 million, and prioritizing funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan fund, which states and local governments use for water infrastructure projects.

Language that prevents listing of sage grouse as an endangered species.

Language that directs the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a rule removing recovered wolves in in the contiguous United States from the endangered species list.

Increased funding increase for Recovery Challenge matching grants to share the costs of recovery with corporate and other non-governmental partners such as the Peregrine Fund in Boise.

Funding for the Rural Water Technical Assistance program to help small communities provide safe and affordable drinking water.

A $175 million increase in funding for the National Park Service to help reduce the deferred maintenance backlog in the park system, which is estimated at $11.6 billion.

Restrictions on issuing new closures of public lands to hunting and recreational shooting, except in the case of public safety.

Funding for Native American communities to address infrastructure and health care needs.

A clause directing the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to work with the state of Idaho regarding aquifer recharge.

Language that directs the BLM to work with local stakeholders to address sediment buildup caused by recent years flooding.