WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement after Senate and House leaders released the text of government funding bills for fiscal year 2020, including an Interior funding bill Udall helped author. Congress is expected to vote on the bills later this week.
“I am proud that we have produced a bipartisan Interior funding bill that makes major investments in our public lands and environmental protection – benefiting our nation’s most treasured spaces and energizing our economy,” Udall said . “This bill recognizes that people all across this nation cherish clean air, clean water, our public lands and outdoor places, and the economic and cultural value these places provide to our communities. And it totally rejects the cuts to EPA and public lands agencies proposed by the Trump administration. I am particularly glad that the bill includes a breakthrough in our work to protect Chaco Canyon – an important step forward as we partner with Tribes to safeguard this sacred place for generations to come.
“Our Interior bill provides key investments for Indian Country, funding education, housing, infrastructure, and other priorities to help ensure healthy and prosperous Native communities. The bill significantly boosts funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund – our nation’s most successful conservation program – and for the arts and cultural programs that enrich our communities and grow local economies. Every final bill involves compromise, and I will continue to push for the removal of legacy anti-environmental riders that do not belong in the appropriations process. Overall, however, this funding bill is a major victory for New Mexico and the nation.”
A summary of the Interior Appropriations bill is available HERE. The full text of the bill is available HERE.
