Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today voted in favor of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2017 (H.R. 5538). The bill determines the budgets for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and related agencies for FY 2017. The proposed budget is a decrease of $64 million from the FY 2016 level and is $1 billion below President Obama’s requested amount.

“Far too often, government entities like the Department of the Interior and the EPA have shifted their focus from performing the duties for which they were founded to expanding crushing regulations on our businesses, manufacturers, farmers and communities,” said Grothman. “By reducing funding for these agencies, we are preventing this type of gross overreach in the future.”

Highlights of the bill:

EPA: The bill reduces funding to the EPA. Regulatory programs and staffing levels at the agency will be held at low levels to assure that the EPA focuses on its core duties, instead of increasing regulations.

Most notably, the bill includes provisions to halt the implementation of some of the most overreaching EPA programs and administrative rules that affect manufacturers, small businesses and farmers.

These provisions include prohibiting the EPA from forcing new greenhouse gas regulations onto power plants and new methane requirements onto the oil and gas industry. These provisions allows for the production of more affordable energy that is so vital for Wisconsin’s families and small businesses.

Additionally, the EPA will no longer be allowed to control water on private land. This is a win for Wisconsin farmers who will no longer have to worry about the EPA dictating how they use their ponds, irrigation ditches and other non-navigable water sources on their farms.

Land and Water Conservation Funding (LWCF): This bill prioritizes state and local recreational areas and battlefield preservation programs within the LWCF – keeping Wisconsin’s recreational areas, parks and historical sites beautiful.  

Additionally, it prohibits the president from declaring national monuments in certain areas.

U.S. Forest Service: The bill provides funding to help with wildland fire preparedness and suppression. It prevents federal agencies from closing public lands to hunting and recreational shooting – providing Wisconsinites with safe places to hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

The Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2017 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 231-196.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin’s 6^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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