Energy and Water Spending for Fiscal Year 2015 (H.R. 4923)

Nuclear Security – The bill provides a total of $11.4 billion for DOE’s nuclear weapons security programs, including Weapons Activities, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and Naval Reactors. This is a $154.6 million increase from the fiscal year 2014 level. This critical national defense funding will allow the U.S. to uphold its nuclear deterrence posture, and prepare for current and future nuclear threats by maintaining the safety and readiness of our nuclear stockpile. This includes:

• $8.2 billion for Weapons Activities – $423.2 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level;
• $1.2 billion for Naval Nuclear Reactors – $120.3 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level; and
• $1.5 billion for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation – $398.8 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and the same as the President’s request.

Army Corps of Engineers – The Army Corps of Engineers is funded at $5.5 billion, an increase of $25 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $959.5 million above the President’s budget request. The bill focuses funding on activities that will have an immediate impact on public safety, job creation and the economy, including those that help ensure our waterways stay open for business. For example, the bill provides:

• $2.3 billion for navigation projects and studies, including $1.1 billion in funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to help advance American competitiveness and export ability; and

• $1.7 billion to support public health and safety by funding flood and storm damage reduction activities – including $326 million for the most critical dam safety improvements. 

Environmental Cleanup – Included in the legislation is $5.6 billion for environmental management activities, $202.2 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. This includes $4.8 billion for Defense Environmental Cleanup to safely clean sites contaminated by previous nuclear weapons production, as well as additional funding for various other non-defense related nuclear sites.

Energy Programs – Funding for energy programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) is $10.3 billion – an increase of $113 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. Within this total, the bill prioritizes and increases funding for energy programs that encourage U.S. economic competitiveness and that help advance the nation’s goal of an “all of the above” solution to energy independence.

In order to balance investments in all energy sources, research and development to advanced coal, natural gas, oil, and other fossil energy technologies, which will help the country make greater use of our rich natural energy resources and help keep down energy costs, are funded at $593 million – an increase of $30.9 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. In addition, funding for nuclear energy research, development, and demonstration activities is increased by $9.8 million for a total funding level of $899 million. Renewable energy programs, which are funded at $1.8 billion in the bill, are cut by $113 million from last year’s enacted level.

Science Research – The bill includes $5.1 billion for science research – the same as the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. This funding will help strengthen the nation’s science and technology innovation by supporting basic energy research, development of high-performance computing systems, and research into the next generation of clean energy sources.  This basic research will lay the groundwork for more efficient and practical domestic energy solutions to help reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and help promote future growth in American businesses and industries.

Bureau of Reclamation - The legislation contains $1 billion – $100.7 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $29 million below the President’s request – for the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation to help manage, develop, and protect the water resources of western states.

Yucca Mountain – The bill continues Congressional efforts to support the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository, providing $150 million for the Nuclear Waste Disposal program and $55 million for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to continue the adjudication of DOE’s Yucca Mountain License application. The legislation also denies an Administration proposal for non-Yucca nuclear waste activities. 

Other policy items:

• The bill prohibits any changes to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

• The bill prohibits any changes to the definition of “fill material” and “discharge of fill material” for the purposes of the Clean Water Act.

• The bill includes language requiring that proceeds from a recent “test sale” of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) be used only to purchase refill crude oil for the SPR.

Walorski (R-IN) - Page 3, Line 16 - Increases Army Corps of Engineers-Construction by $500,000 and reduces Department of Energy-Departmental Administration by the same amount. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Murphy (D-FL) - Amendment No. 8 -Page 3, Line 16 - Increases Army Corps of Engineers-Construction by $1 million and reduces Army Corps of Engineers Finance Center by the same amount. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Cassidy (R-LA) - Amendment No. 4 - Page 3, Line 16 - Increases Army Corps of Engineers-Construction by $5 million and reduces Department of Energy-Departmental Administration by the same amount. – ADOPTED BY VOICE  

Lankford (R-OK) - Page 4, Line 25 - Amendment allows for all necessary funds to be available to carry out the study authorized in Sec. 6002 in WRRDA. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Ruiz (D-CA) - Page 12, Line 25 - Reduces Bureau of Reclamation-Water and Related Resources by $1 million and increases the same account by the same amount. The sponsor intends for the funds to be used for environmental restoration in the Salton Sea (California). – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Gardner (R-CO) - Page 12, Line 25 - Reduces Bureau of Reclamation-Water and Related Resources by $3 million and increases the same account by the same amount. The sponsor intends for the funds to be used for the Arkansas Valley Conduit. –ADOPTED BY VOICE

Noem (R-SD) - Page 12, Line 25 - Increase Bureau of Reclamation-Water and Related Resources by $10 million and reduces Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and DOE-Departmental Administration by $13 million collectively. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Castor (D-FL) - Page 19, Line 12 - Increases Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $112.6 million and decreases Fossil Energy Research and Development by $165 million. – REJECTED BY VOICE

McAllister (R-LA) - Page 4, Line 7 - Increases Army Corps of Engineers-Mississippi River and Tributaries by $47 million and reduces DOE-Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by the same amount. – REJECTED 132 – 284  

Hahn (D-CA) - Page 4, Line 24 - Increases the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund by $57 million and reduces DOE-Nuclear Energy by $73.3 million. – ADOPTED 281 – 137

Gosar (R-AZ) - Page 7, Line 3 - Reduces Army Corps of Engineers-Expenses by $4 million and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Account. – REJECTED 104 – 316

Wenstrup (R-OH) - Page 19, Line 12 - Reduces Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $10.4 million and reduces DOE-Departmental Administration by $8.5 million and increases Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund by $15 million. The sponsor intends for funds to be used for cleanup at the uranium enrichment facility in Portsmouth, Ohio.  –REJECTED 112 – 309

Swalwell (D-CA) - Page 19, Line 12 - Increases Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $111.6 million and decreases Fossil Energy Research and Development by $161.8 million. – REJECTED 172 – 245

Byrne (R-AL) - Page 19, Line 12 - Eliminates all funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ($1.8 billion) and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Amount. – REJECTED 110 – 310

McClintock (R-CA) - Page 19, Line 12 - Reduces Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE-Nuclear Energy, and Fossil Energy Research and Development by $3.1 billion collectively and transfers the savings to the Spending Reduction Account. –REJECTED 97 – 321   

McNerney (D-CA) - Page 19, Line 24 - Increases DOE-Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability by $20 million and reduces DOE-Departmental Administration by the same amount. – REJECTED BY VOICE 

Kaptur (D-OH) - Page 22 Line 19 - Increases Energy Information Administration by $500,000 and reduces DOE-Departmental Administration by the same amount. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Reed (R-NY) - Page 23, Line 5 - Increases Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup by $4 million and reduces DOE-Departmental Administration by the same amount. – ADOTPED BY VOICE 

Foster (D-IL) - Page 24, Line 1 - Reduces DOE-Science by $300,000 and increases the same account by the same amount. The sponsor's intent is that the money be used for the National Undergraduate Fellowship Program. – ADOPTED BY VOICE

Kaptur (D-OH) - Page 26, Line 24 - DOE-Departmental Administration by $1 million and increases the same account by the same amount. – ADOPTED BY VOICE