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The big picture: After months of stalemate, Congress is closing in on finalizing an Omnibus Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill. The $1.7 trillion package funds the government through September 2023. Key programmatic funding levels for the Interior-Environment, Energy-Water, and Homeland Security spending bills are detailed below.

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What’s next: Following Senate passage, the House will swiftly follow suit. Upon final passage, expected late Friday, the 117th Congress will come to a close. The 118th Congress will convene January 3, 2023.

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The bottom line: USEPA continues to receive strong support from Congress, with a total of $10 billion in funding. This represents a 6% increase from FY 2022 enacted level. 

By the numbers: The $10 billion is divided among the Agency’s various programs and community project funding (CPF) recipients. Key allocations include:

• $863 million for Clean Water SRF and $609 million for Drinking Water SRF

• $802 million for the Office of Science and Technology 

• $3.28 billion for Environmental Management 

• $1.28 billion for Hazardous Substance Superfund

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What the Bill Highlights: USEPA is directed to take or continue certain actions: 

• Continue activities to to address PFAS, including undertaking rulemakings, and to provide Congress a spend-plan for its PFAS-related activities. 

• Issue guidance encouraging use of innovative technologies in water infrastructure projects and clarifying use of SRF assistance.

  Go deeper: Details on funding priorities and policy Explanatory Statement

 

U.S. Geological Survey 

The top line: USGS receives continued support from Congress, with a total of $1.49 billion, representing an increase of $102 million above FY2022 levels. 

The bottom line: The appropriations bill provides a handful of USGC priorities to guide research, monitoring and studies through the following allocations and directives:

• $2.7 million for PFAS/PFOA contamination research in watersheds and aquifers

• $114.5 million for Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

• $83 million for Climate Adaption Science and Land Change Science Program

• conduct plastics research, including research on microplastics and nanoplastics’s impact on environment 

• research presence of hazardous algal blooms in waterways

  Go deeper: Read the complete funding package Explanatory Statement

 

 

U.S. Forest Service

Caldor Fire - USFS

The Top Line: Omnibus commits $4.4 billion dedicated for wildfire management, mitigation and suppression efforts, a $550 million increase over current year spending level. 

Why it matters: The numbers tell a story of continued priorities:

• $2.67 billion for Wildland Fire Management, including $321 million for Hazardous Fuels reduction efforts

• $60 million for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund 

• $4 million for cooperative research to target wildfire impacts on forested source waters, downstream water quality, and water treatment

• $42 million for Urban and Community Forestry

• $52.2 million for Vegetation and Watershed Management

  See the Details: Read the Explanatory Statement

More Funding: The agreement carries a Disaster Relief Supplemental appropriation:

• $885 million for fire suppression and related activities and $925 million for Emergency Watershed Protection Program activities.

What the Bill Highlights: The Forest Service is directed to:

• report on the feasibility of using uncontaminated sediment removed from impoundments for beneficial uses on Forest Service lands.

• make road washout restorations a priority

• engage with State and local partners to increase forest acres improved through vegetation management.

 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 

The top line: Drought Program Funding dominates USBR spending agreement, provides $1.7 billion to support responses to western water supply conditions as the western U.S. faces unrelenting climate pressures. 

Why it matters: A robust federal commitment to resilient, innovative and alternative water supply projects, traditional storage and water use efficiency technologies is demonstrated by appropriations priorities.

By the numbers…

• $60 million to support water recycling projects

• $65 million to support innovation through WaterSMART projects

• $38 million for drought planning and responses

• $130 million for Emergency Drought Relief Act

• $134 million to continue construction of surface water storage projects

  Go Deeper: Read the Explanatory Statement on USBR Funding 

 

Federal Emergency Management Administration

The top line: Omnibus provides robust funding of $25.7 billion; an increase of $1.5 billion. 

The big picture: Department of Homeland Security funding continues to grow to address climate induced extreme storm events and cybersecurity needs. 

By the numbers: Funding is allocated across FEMA disaster response and mitigation programs:

• $19.95 billion for Disaster Relief Fund to respond to major disasters

• $233 million for pre-disaster mitigation grants to states and local governments 

• FEMA’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency receives $2.9 billion to support hardening public infrastructure. 

  Go deeper: Read the Explanatory Statement

 

 

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! 

 

 

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