Senate releases Energy-Water, other spending bills

By Andres Picon, Nico Portuondo, Miranda Willson | 08/01/2024 01:23 PM EDT

Appropriators in the upper chamber have now advanced all but one of their fiscal 2025 measures.

Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

(Left to right) Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Capitol Hill in May. The two praised their fiscal 2025 Energy-Water bill released Thursday. Andrew Harnik/AP

Senate appropriators’ $61.5 billion fiscal 2025 Energy-Water spending bill proposes robust funding for the federal government’s clean energy and water programs, a stark contrast to wide ranging climate cuts included in House Republicans’ proposal.

The top-line funding for the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation represents an increase of about $3.3 billion from enacted fiscal 2024 levels, according to a summary released Thursday.

With funding boosts to a range of defense and nondefense programs, the bill earned sweeping bipartisan support and passed unanimously, 28-0.

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House Republicans’ version of the Energy-Water bill did not have enough support to pass last week and was pulled from floor consideration at the last minute.

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