Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (July 16, 2014) – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill by a bipartisan vote of 29-19.

Congressional Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large), Chairman Emeritus Rob Bishop (UT-01) and Western Caucus members Mark Amodei (NV-02) and Chris Stewart (UT-02) released the following statements in response to the passage of the bill:

“I commend the Appropriations Committee for reporting a bill that addresses many pressing Western issues,” said Chairman Pearce. “This bill will work to protect Western forests from devastating wildfires by increasing funding for prevention efforts that have been neglected in recent years.  It will also supply rural communities in the West with the funds they desperately need due to the egregious amount of nontaxable land held by the federal government.  The bill prevents unnecessary and economically harmful listings of species under the Endangered Species Act and gives state and private landowner conservation efforts a chance to succeed.  The bill also prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from continuing to implement job killing regulations on Western communities, including their attempted takeover of water supplies and prevents the agency from garnishing the wages of hard-working Americans.  I call on House leadership to schedule a vote on this important piece of legislation.”

“We in the West have seen time and again what a lousy neighbor the federal government can be, and this Interior Appropriations bill tackles some of the worst injustices head on,” said Chairman Lummis.  “The payment for the ‘Payment in Lieu of Taxes’ program’ is rightfully owed to states and counties, helping to support schools and rural county governments who rely on these payments to make up for lost tax revenue where federal land makes up large portions of a county.  This is the price of federal land ownership in the west so long as the land remains in federal hands.  The appropriations bill also curtails some of the most egregious job-killing federal regulations, including those seeking the eradication of affordable coal-fired electricity and the federalization of every puddle and creek in the United States.  It also prevents a premature, litigation-driven listing of the sage grouse that would undermine the robust and effective conservation efforts already underway at the state level.  Overall this bill is a solid win for states’ rights, for the west, and for our nation’s economic prosperity.”

“I am grateful to the members of the House Appropriations Committee for their work on the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill,” said Chairman Emeritus Bishop. “They worked to address some of the biggest issues facing the West such as wildfire funding, PILT payments, endangered species, and water.  Ensuring that western counties receive some compensation for the lack of revenue generated on surrounding federal lands is a challenge we face each year. I am thankful that PILT was addressed in this legislative package. I am also pleased that the committee recognized the need to delay the listing of the Sage Grouse, which is a helpful step in our ongoing efforts to give states more time to finalize and implement their management and recovery plans.  Additionally, while we are all disappointed with the lack of progress being made with regards to the design for the Eisenhower Memorial, I am glad that the committee recognizes the need to correct course by supporting the proposal to redesign through an open, public and transparent process.”

“Among the most important measures for the empowerment of Western states in the FY15 Interior appropriations bill are the one-year delay to a potential Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of the sage hen and the language to protect states’ water rights,” said Rep. Mark Amodei, member of the House Appropriations Committee. “An ESA listing will not save the sage hen, as the chief threat to its habitat is wildland fire. An ESA listing will, however, harm the economies of 11 Western states. What is needed to save the sage hen and the West is a shift in funding to prioritize fuels management to prevent wildland fire and to restore habitat after it does burn. With respect to water rights, jurisdiction over ground water is one of the few states’ rights remaining in the West and the Western Caucus will work all day, every day to keep it.”

"I'm pleased that the Committee has done so much for the west in the Interior Appropriations bill, said Rep. Stewart.  “I worked hard to get the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program funded, which is so vital for many western counties whose land is primarily owned by the federal government. It enables these rural counties to provide necessary services. There are also other provisions within this bill that I strongly support. It allows for a one year delay in a greater sage grouse listing, which will give states the time they need to finish and implement their state conservation plans. In addition to other western issues, this appropriations legislation also cuts back on the EPA¹s ability to implement their proposed water rule, which would allow the federal government to claim jurisdiction on any land in the U.S. where water can accumulate."

To learn more about the bill click here

For bill text click here