This week, the FY 2016 House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill was marked up in subcommittee. The bill would fully fund the Federal Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at $452 million for FY 2016. The measure also contains 20 policy riders to stop or redirect federal agency actions on a number of controversial measures, including the Clean Water Act rule (known as the Waters of the U.S.), proposed listing of the sage grouse as an endangered species in California and other western states, and a rule to allow ease requirements for recognizing new Indian Tribes.
The Senate is anticipated to include a ban on funding the Clean Water Act rule for the first time when the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations Committee meet next week. The House recently approved the ban on the bill that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the Senate Appropriations bill includes a rider to prohibit funding to implement the President’s recent Executive Order and Standard that would restrict all federal actions in floodplains. The House Interior bill will be marked up in the full Appropriations Committee next week.