Interior Mark-up press release

Washington, DC, June 11) – Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) announced important funding increases for key environmental programs, Native American Tribes, and federal land management agencies included in a spending package now up for consideration by the full House Appropriations Committee.
As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Dicks worked to include badly needed funding increases for our National Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Refuges, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Native American tribes, and national art and cultural institutions within his Subcommittee’s jurisdiction. The Interior Subcommittee approved the Fiscal Year 2009 spending package by voice vote on June 11, and the bill is expected to come before the full Appropriations Committee next week.
In rejecting more than $1 billion in cuts proposed by President Bush, Rep. Dicks’ legislation provides a responsible 4.9 percent funding increase for these critical programs. “This bill is an important step in the right direction,” said Dicks. “We must reverse the irresponsible cuts proposed by the current administration.”
The Subcommittee-passed bill will help reverse years of draconian budget cuts opposed by both Democrats and Republicans. The legislation includes the following important initiatives:
· Supporting our National Parks: A $158 million increase for the operational budget of our National Parks, and a total of $2.6 billion for the National Park Service.
· Protecting human health and our environment: $7.8 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, an increase of $371 million over last year.
· Bridging present gaps at National Wildlife Refuges: $469 million for the National Wildlife Refuge system, an increase of $35 million over the current funding level.
· Reversing years of Forest Service funding cuts – protecting watersheds endangered by failing roads: Dramatic funding increases for the Forest Service – with an additional $473 million over the President’s request to maintain current service levels.
· An unprecedented funding increase for Native American Tribes in Washington and across the nation: The largest ever increase for the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Norm’s bill increases funding by $350 million over current funding levels.
· Funding the arts and the humanities: $160 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and $160 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities – up by $15 million from current funding levels for each Endowment.