ENVIRONMENT BRIEFS
News Date June 30, 2009
INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT SPENDING BILL CLEARS HOUSE
The House of Representatives on Friday passed a $32.3 billion appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies. The legislation represents a 17 percent increase for fiscal year 2010 over 2009. Under the House-passed bill, the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget would increase more than 30 percent to $10.6 billion and the Department of the Interior would see an increase of $897 million. Also included in the bill is $3.66 billion for wildland-fire management operations at Interior and the Forest Service. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)
COMMITTEE MOVES TO EXPAND WILD HORSE HABITAT
The House Natural Resources Committee reported to the full House the Restore our American Mustangs Act (H.R. 1018) which would amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971. Specifically, the legislation would dramatically expand areas wild horses are allowed, limit population management tools, and prohibit commercial uses for adopted horses. Western states are particularly concerned that this legislation would impact range health and reduce the forage and rangeland available for livestock grazing. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)