Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro:
As the Committee prepares to mark up the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges you to consider several important funding and policy priorities.
Army Corps of Engineers: The Chamber encourages the Committee to support full funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program authorized in the Water Resources and Development Act of 2020, including all projects in the 46 Chief of Engineers reports, as well as full funding for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, and the Border Water Infrastructure Program. We support funding for the water infrastructure programs authorized but not appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
AIM Act Implementation and Climate Innovation: The Chamber supports full funding to implement the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons, and to support the technology innovation needed to drive greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Solid Waste Recycling Program: The Chamber urges you to include full funding for all the grant programs under Save Our Seas 2.0, including the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program to build innovation in the recycling industry and address plastic pollution and marine debris.
Streamline Permitting Process: The Chamber encourages the committee to oppose efforts that revert to outdated and ineffective National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulatory policies from the 1970s, but to support streamlining agency permitting processes and accelerating decision-making to support investments designed to improve America’s transportation, water, broadband, energy, and other critical infrastructure. Permit streamlining should not only support energy infrastructure investments such as carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) and renewable energy projects as identified in the budget request but also be applied to other major energy and infrastructure projects as well.
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act: The Chamber urges full funding for EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program at the requested level of $150 million. Expanded funding for this successful and well-managed program would allow EPA to accelerate the pace at which older diesel engines are retired or retrofitted, particularly in areas with significant air quality challenges.
BLM Conservation and Land Health Rule: The Chamber supports language to ban funds available to the Bureau of Land Management for the promulgation, administration, implementation, or enforcement of the proposed rule titled Conservation and Landscape Health. The proposed rule exceeds the BLM’s multiple use mandate for public lands as authorized by Congress.
The Chamber appreciates your consideration of these recommendations as you prepare to mark up the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
Sincerely,
Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer,
and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
