8-1 IAN Simpson Bill

 Interior Appropriations Bill Passes Subcommittee

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today brought his FY14 appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, the EPA, and related agencies before the subcommittee. The FY14 appropriations bill reflects current budgetary challenges by reducing funding by over $5 billion overall. On releasing the budget, Simpson noted that the difficult budget environment required making difficult decisions such as  separating the critical ‘must-do’ priorities from those that are nice or even very important.”

Simpson’s bill focuses its limited resources on critical priorities like wildfire funding.  Here’s Congressman Simpson’s spokesperson Nikki Watts: “The bill fully funds wildfire suppression accounts at the 10-year average and provides additional funding to prevent fire borrowing this year.  It also provides funding for the Forest Service to acquire two next generation aircraft to fight fires, since the current fleet is nearing the end of its useful life.  Recognizing the value and cost effectiveness of preventing wildfires versus fighting them, the bill also increases funding for hazardous fuels removal.

During the markup, Simpson responded to criticisms of the bill by reminding subcommittee members about the very real fiscal challenges our nation faces.  “One thing I didn’t hear in all of the comments that were made [from the other side of the aisle] is the fact that we are $17 trillion in debt.  $17 trillion.