The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would see its budget trimmed next year under an appropriations measure moving through Congress, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would see a funding boost over levels proposed in President Obama’s funding request.
The early numbers are included in fiscal year 2016 appropriations bills making their way through the House and Senate. Leaders of each chamber have set a goal of completing the year’s spending legislation in advance of the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, so work on the 12 annual measures is expected to continue into the early fall.
The Army Corps looks to be an early winner in the FY16 spending process, as both the House and Senate have put forward proposals to increase its funding. Late last month the House passed Energy and Water appropriations legislation that included $5.6 billion for the Corps, which represents an increase of roughly $142 million above its FY15 funding level and $865 million above President Obama’s request for the agency. The bill would direct $2.4 billion toward navigation projects and $1.6 billion for flood control and storm damage reduction efforts.
Similarly, this month the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced legislation that carries $5.5 billion for the Army Corps, including $2.5 billion for navigation projects and studies and $1.4 billion to fight flood and storm damage. While slightly less generous overall than the House version, the sum still represents a $45 million increase over the Corps’ FY15 funding level and an increase of $768 million above President Obama’s request.
NOAA has not fared as well with appropriators, as the House’s proposed FY16 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill would leave NOAA with just under $5.2 billion next year – $274 million below its FY15 level and about $800 million below President Obama’s request. The bill includes $128 million for NOAA’s climate research activities, which is $30 million below current funding levels. The House Appropriations Committee has approved the cuts, and the full chamber could consider the bill in June.
One major remaining FY16 funding question is the status of EPA, the State Revolving Fund programs, and the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). Senate appropriators are tentatively planning to markup their FY16 EPA funding bill by mid-June, so some clarity will begin to emerge at that point.