By Philip Kim, USCM Intern
August 9, 2004

On July 22, the House Appropriations Committee marked up the $92.9 billion FY05 VA-HUD spending bill. The bill addressed funding for programs and activities of the Veteran Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and NASA. There is approximately $1 billion more included in the house-approved bill compared to the Administration's figures, but departments such as the EPA will suffer drastic cuts in their funding.

The bill provides $7.8 billion for the EPA, $36 million below the Administration's request and $613 million below the FY04 Appropriations. This reduction in appropriations includes a cut in funding of the EPA's Environmental Programs and Management.

An important part of the EPA's fund distribution is the grants that address a variety of city environmental needs from water treatment to brownfields redevelopment. The committee has set aside about $3.4 billion for the State and Tribal Assistance Grants program. This is around $500 million less then FY04 appropriations for the same grants. For the brownfields assessment and revitalization grants, the committee has recommended $95 million, well below the $150 million sought out by cities and environmental groups. As for the $1.2 billion set aside for state and tribal programs/categorical grants, $50 million has been assigned to address brownfields, $10 million less than the request of the Administration.

Floor action on this bill is expected to happen in September when Congress returns from recess. The bill is expected to be part of a larger omnibus spending package.