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Economic development

Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Appropriations Bills Amid Partisan Tensions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved two bipartisan appropriations bills in committee, the Interior-Environment bill and the Transportation-HUD bill, amidst growing tensions over partisan cuts and policy decisions. The committee voted 26-2 to approve the Interior-Environment bill and 27-1 to approve the Transportation-HUD bill. The bills reject harmful cuts proposed by the Trump administration and maintain crucial programs that support working families.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Interior-Environment bill provides critical funding for National Parks, Forest Service, and Tribal programs, rejecting Trump's proposed cuts and House Republican levels.
  • The bill protects clean water and air programs, vital research that protects families' health, and prevents the sale of national parks.
  • It ensures federal firefighters will not face pay cuts and fully funds wildfire prevention and suppression.
  • The Transportation-HUD bill provides safe and efficient travel by fully funding the FAA and makes investments in Amtrak and transit projects critical to New York.
  • It rejects harmful proposals from the Trump administration and helps lower costs for all Americans by protecting families, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on HUD rental and homeless assistance programs.

Statistics:

  • The Interior-Environment bill protects funding for operating National Parks at $3.3 billion.
  • The bill rejects the Trump administration's proposed cuts to National Parks and rejects House Republican levels.
  • It provides $12 billion across Tribal programs, rejecting Trump efforts to cut Tribal safety, Tribal schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and advanced appropriations for the Indian Health Service.
  • The Transportation-HUD bill increases funding for the FAA to hire air traffic controllers, modernize equipment, and more.
  • It invests in highway safety, rail safety, and pipeline safety, and rejects Trump's cuts to essential air services that would have cut off small and rural communities.

Sources:

  • Vice Chair Patty Murray Committee Net
  • United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
  • Senate Appropriations Committee Markup Meeting
  • Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

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