The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved its fiscal 2025 spending bill for the Interior Department, EPA and other environmental agencies on a 29-25 vote over fierce Democratic objections.
The bill, which would impose steep cuts on those agencies while knocking out dozens of the Biden administration’s climate initiatives, is unlikely to become law but represents the House GOP’s negotiating position with the Senate.
In a sign of the spending battles to come, Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to strip the bill of riders. Instead, the GOP added more provisions against administration priorities.
“I’m pleased the bill will help reduce energy costs, protect American jobs and ensure that we can continue to access our public lands to recreate, hunt and develop our natural resources,” said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who chairs the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.
