Appropriations for FY1999: Energy and Water Development (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (23 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
Oct. 27, 1998 |
| Report Number |
98-207 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Marc Humphries and Carl Behrens, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes funding for civil projects of the
Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, much of the
Department of Energy (DOE), and a number of independent agencies, including the Appalachian
Regional Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the appropriated programs
of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The Administration requested $21.7 billion for these
programs for FY1999 compared with $21.0 billion appropriated for FY1998 and $19.97 billion for
FY1997. The Senate, by a vote of 98-1, approved the Energy and Water bill ( S. 2138 )
on June 18, 1998, for a total of $21.4 billion. The House , by a vote of 405-4 approved its version
of the bill ( H.R. 4060 ) on June 22, 1998 for $21.1 billion. The conference agreement,
appropriating $21.2 billion, was reported out September 25, 1998. The conference report ( H.Rept.
105-749 ) was approved by the House September 28, 1998, and approved by the Senate September
29, 1998. The President signed the bill October 7, 1998.
Key issues involving the Energy and Water Development appropriations programs included:
Sharp cuts in the Corps of Engineers construction request. However, the House
and Senate prevailed in supporting $1.43 billion, nearly double the amount of the
request.
Significant proposed increases in DOE's research and development programs
and in the nuclear weapons program. Increases over FY1998 were approved by Congress, but the
amount agreed to was 3.1% below the Administration's request. The nuclear weapons budget was
hiked by about $300 million over the FY1998 amount.
DOE's proposed "accelerated cleanup" of former weapons sites. Environmental
cleanup programs were supported at near the level of the DOE request. However, the requested
amount for the privatization of DOE waste management projects was cut in half by Congress.
Increased funding for nuclear energy programs. Congress supported funding
for nuclear energy programs at $41 million over FY1998 but $42 million less than the DOE
request.
Continued funding of TVA's non-power programs. Funding for TVA was not
included in the Energy and Water Development bill for FY1999.
The FY1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act ( P.L. 105-277 ) added money to several programs
funded in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, including the Corps of Engineers, DOE's
renewable energy program and its defense activities program, and TVA. This additional funding is
not incorporated in the budget tables that follow, but significant changes are noted in the text under
Key Policy Issues.
