The fiscal 2024 Interior Department funding package now set for House and Senate approval this week is notable both for what is included and what is missing.
The bill would provide $14.7 billion for Interior, which is roughly what the department received in the comparable fiscal 2023 appropriation.
There’s steady funding for programs with strong bipartisan appeal, like Everglades restoration and wildland firefighting. There are still prohibitions on protecting the sage grouse or regulating lead ammo on wildlife refuges.
There are hefty line items, like the $180.6 million allocated for renovating the Grand Canyon National Park’s utility system.