July 8, 2008 – 2:09 p.m.
Senate appropriators aligned with the House Tuesday in rejecting proposed cuts by President Bush and boosting spending for renewable-energy and energy efficiency programs in their 2009 draft spending bill for energy and water programs.
But the bill approved by the Senate Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee by voice vote funds nuclear programs at close to the White House request. The House version proposed spending much less on those programs.
The bill would provide $33.2 billion in discretionary funds, compared to $33.3 billion approved by House appropriators. The Senate bill is about $1.9 billion more than Bush’s budget request, and about $2 billion more than the fiscal 2008 appropriation.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would receive more than $1.9 billion, $673 million more than the White House request and $206 million more than in fiscal 2008. The House provided $2.5 billion for renewable and energy efficiency programs.
“The president’s proposed budget request seems to reflect a different reality than what I see facing our country at home and abroad,” said Subcommittee Chairman
The bill approved by the Senate panel would provide $27 billion for the Department of Energy, compared to $24 billion enacted in fiscal 2008. That’s $200 million less than the House proposal and a $1.1 billion more than the president’s budget request.
It would provide $5.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $559 million more than the White House request, compared to $5.6 billion enacted in 2008. It would provide $1.13 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, $333 million more than the White House request, compared to $1.5 billion enacted in 2008.
The House bill would provide $27.2 billion for the Energy Department, $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, and $5.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers.