July 10, 2014

The House passed their fiscal year (FY) 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4923), on July 10 by a vote of 253-170. This $34 billion bill funds the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including $593 million for fossil fuel energy development, $1.8 billion for renewable energy, and $5.1 billion for basic science research under the DOE’s Office of Science. The bill also includes $150 million for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository.

Many amendments to the bill were offered leading up to the vote. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) offered an amendment to shift money from the National Nuclear Security Administration to the DOE Office of Science to meet the Administration’s funding request for research. Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) opposed this amendment explaining that “[shifting] funding between defense and nondefense allocations would have negative repercussions on every appropriations bill by exceeding the Ryan-Murray budget caps  that trigger sequestration.” Rep. Foster withdrew his amendment.

Amendments that passed on the floor included funding prohibitions for programs such as the Obama Administration’s climate change agenda and activities related to the “social cost of carbon.” 

President Obama has threatened to veto the House bill due to Yucca Mountain provisions, "objectionable environmental riders,” and cuts to renewable energy programs. The Senate is not expected to consider their version of the FY 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

Sources: AIP, E&E News, House Appropriations Committee