House Passes FY22 Appropriations for EPA

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a fiscal year 2022 appropriations “minibus” bill (HR 4502) in a 219-208, party-line vote. The minibus combines the text of seven fiscal 2022 spending bills approved by the Appropriations panel largely along party lines. The minibus includes funding for EPA at about the same level as the $11.4 billion the Appropriations Committee developed, making only a few minor changes to the agency’s budget with amendments during floor debate. This is an increase of $2.1 billion for the Agency above FY 2021 levels and $110.8 million more than President Biden requested in his annual budget. This includes:

• $124 million ($12 million increase above the FY21 enacted level) for Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) Grants
• $1.358 billion ($232 million increase above the FY21 enacted level) for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
• $1.871 billion ($232 million increase above the FY21 enacted level) for Clean Water SRF

In addition to the Interior-Environment (HR 4372) bill, the package passed includes the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Labor-HHS-Education, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD bills. Senate appropriators may begin marking up their first few bills as early as next week, though a final decision hasn’t been announced.