The House is considering the FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations measure. H.R. 2028 would provide fiscal 2016 funding for the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of Energy. The bill would boost overall energy and water spending by $1.2 billion over fiscal 2015 enacted levels. The legislation’s total price tag is $35.4 billion.
The bill also contains controversial report language that prohibits the Corps from using any funds to implement the proposed rule on WOTUS, and expresses the Committee’s concerns about the Federal Flood Risk Management Standards. Earlier this week, the White House threatened to veto the House legislation over its Clean Water Act policy riders and cuts to clean energy programs.
The measure also directs the Bureau of Reclamation to provide Congress a report that details all existing federal authorizations which could be used to provide additional water supply to drought prone areas. The report is expected to also outline an assessment of opportunities to accelerate actions to provide water supply and R &D investments that could expand or maximize existing supplies through water quality improvements such as addressing salinity or impaired water.