House Appropriators Boost EPA FY20 Funding in Draft Bill

The House Appropriations Committee’s draft Interior-Environment spending bill, scheduled for subcommittee markup May 15, increases EPA funding in the year 2020 to a total of $9.52 billion in funding for the agency — $672 million over FY19 enacted levels and $3.42 billion over the Trump administration’s FY20 budget request.

According to a summary released by House Democrats, the bill includes:

• $4.64 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, a $511 million increase above the 2019 enacted level and $1.87 billion above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:
  • $3.11 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, an increase of $345 million above the 2019 enacted level and $1.13 billion above the President’s budget request.
  • $70 million for targeted grants for drinking water contaminants like lead, nitrates, or other health hazards.
• $18 million in additional funding for scientific and regulatory work on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), needed to establish a drinking water standard and cleanup standards. This level of funding more than doubles current levels for this work.

The draft bill also includes a $45 million dollar appropriation for WIFIA, as well as funding for provisions under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and America’s Water Infrastructure Act.