The New York Times/ Greenwire – The House will take up the $33.3 billion fiscal 2010 energy and water spending bill this week as Democratic leaders in that chamber push to complete all appropriations measures before the August break.
The bill (pdf) funds the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and several independent agencies.
It supports increases in renewable energy, efficiency and science funding but also breaks with the Obama administration in some key areas. For instance, the bill does not go along with a DOE plan to end research into hydrogen vehicles and instead provides $40 million for the effort, and also greatly pares back a $280 million plan to create eight multidisciplinary “energy innovation hubs.”
The Rules Committee meets tomorrow afternoon, which means the bill would likely be on the floor the next day. Democrats are expected to allow debate on only a limited number of amendments. Lawmakers have submitted roughly 100 amendments to the Rules Committee, which will greatly pare down the list tomorrow.
Examples of amendments include Rep. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) ongoing effort to slash various earmarks; Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton’s (R-Texas) proposal to reverse the decision to abandon the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump; and several amendments to cut funding for the overall bill or specific programs. [read more...]
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