Source:  U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, 7/15/11

The U.S. House today approved H.R. 2354, the fiscal year 2012 Energy, Water, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The legislation provides the annual funding for the various agencies and programs under the Department of Energy, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and various regional water and power authorities.

The legislation totals $30.6 billion – a cut of $5.9 billion below the President’s request and $1 billion below last year – which brings the total cost of the bill to nearly the 2006 funding level. In addition, the bill provides over $1 billion dollars in emergency funding for the Corps of Engineers to address recent Mississippi River and Missouri River flood disasters. The funding will be used for flood fighting activities and restoration of flood prevention and navigation systems.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers applauded the House for passing the bill:
“This bill is proof that we can make common-sense spending reductions without damaging or impairing the programs that help keep our country safe and our citizens at work. While providing vital funding for programs that preserve our public safety, quality of life, economic competitiveness, energy independence and national defense, this bill abides by the promise that we would cut spending where we can to get our budgets back into balance and keep us on track toward economic recovery,” Chairman Rogers said.

Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen also welcomed House passage:
"The House should be proud of this bill, which protects our national security and American competitiveness and innovation and sharpens oversight of the Department of Energy and the agencies under our jurisdiction. And recognizing the fiscal crisis facing our country, the bill restores funding to levels not seen since 2006, making it a model of restraint," Frelinghuysen said.  "I also commend the House Leadership for returning to regular order. This week's open and free-wheeling debate reflects well on this House."    

A summary of amendments to the FY 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that the House approved follows:
Graves (R-MO) The amendment reduces the Missouri River Fish and Wildlife project by $1.75 million and increases Operations and Maintenance by $1 million for levee repair. The amendment passed on a vote of 216-190.

Scalise (R-LA) The amendment cuts $6.3 million from supervision and general administrative expenses in the headquarters of the Corps of Engineers, and adds the funds to Army Corps Operation and Maintenance for dredging of waterways. The amendment passed on a vote of 241-168.

Woodall (R-GA) The amendment cuts $4.9 million from the Army Corps Operation and Maintenance for response to climate change at Corps projects, and transfers the funds to the Spending Reduction Account. The amendment passed on a vote of 218-191.

Sessions (R-TX) The amendment strikes Section 102 of the bill, which prohibits the use of any funds to convert any functions performed by federal employees to private competition pursuant to a study conducted under OMB Circular A-76. The amendment passed on a vote of 224-196.

Harris (R-MD) The amendment cuts $6 million from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and transfers the funds to the Spending Reduction Account. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Woodall (R-GA) The amendment cuts $200,000 from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and transfers the funds to the Spending Reduction Account. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rehberg (R-MT) The amendment provides $2.2 million for Fossil Energy Research and Development for State oil and gas commissions. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Reed (R-NY) The amendment cuts Departmental Administration by $21 million and Office of the Administrator by $20 million, and adds the funds to Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup. The amendment passed on a vote of 261-162.

Schiff (D-CA) The amendment cuts $79.6 million from Departmental Administration, and adds the funds to the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E). The amendment passed on a vote of 214-213.

Broun (R-GA) The amendment cuts $2.5 million from Departmental Administration, and transfers the funds to the Spending Reduction Account.

Fortenberry (R-NE) The amendment cuts $35 million from Departmental Administration, and transfers the funds to Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Shimkus (R-IL) The amendment cuts $10 million from Departmental Administration to increase funding for the Yucca Mountain license application. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 297-130.

Cole (R-OK) The amendment prohibits funds to implement rules, regulations, or an executive order that would require federal contractors to disclose political contributions. The amendment passed on a vote of 249-169.

Gosar (R-AZ) The amendment bars funding to implement federal regulations prohibiting the public use of firearms and other weapons in a water resource project area administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Jackson Lee (D-TX) The amendment prohibits funding from being used in contravention of the Department of Energy Organization Act. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Hastings (R-WA) The amendment prohibits funding to implement or enforce the recommendations proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the final draft of the McNary Shoreline Management Plan. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Kaptur (D-OH) The amendment cuts $10 million from Departmental Administration, and adds the funding to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The amendment passed on a vote of 212-210.

Hastings (R-WA) The amendment prohibits funding to move the Office of Environmental Management under the authority of the Undersecretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Engel (D-NY) The amendment prohibits funding to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum Federal Fleet Performance dated May 24, 2011. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Hastings (R-WA) The amendment prohibits funding for the Corps of Engineers for the removal or associated mitigation of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project number 2342. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Denham (R-CA) The amendment prohibits funding to reintroduce salmon to the San Joaquin River. The amendment passed on a voice vote.

Scalise (R-LA) The amendment cuts $1 million from Corps of Engineers Expenses, and transfers the funding to Corps of Engineers Construction. The amendment passed on a vote of 271-148.

Flores (R-TX) The amendment prohibits funding to enforce the section that prohibits the government from purchasing alternative fuels. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Young (R-IN) The amendment prohibits funding to pay the salaries of Energy Department employees to carry out the weatherization assistance increases created by the economic stimulus law. The amendment passed on a voice vote.

Landry (R-LA) The amendment prohibits funding for the salaries of individuals appointed to their positions via recess appointment. The amendment passed on a vote of 227-193.

Harris (R-MD) The amendment prohibits funding for the International Program within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account while preserving funding for U.S-Israel energy cooperation. The amendment passed on a vote of 326-185.

Luetkemeyer (R-MO) The amendment prohibits funding to conduct a study relating to Missouri River Projects required by the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Law. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Luetkemeyer (R-MO) The amendment prohibits funding to conduct an environmental study relating to Missouri River. The amendment was adopted on a voice.

Burgess (R-TX) The amendment prohibits the implementation or enforcement of higher efficiency light bulb standards. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Cravaack (R-MN) The amendment prohibits funding to expand the authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Sherman (D-CA) The amendment prohibits funding for DoE International Programs in China. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Hastings (D-FL) The amendment prohibits funding from being used in contravention of the Executive Order entitled "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Final Passage The FY 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill passed on a vote of 219-196.