Simpson Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 4366, The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

Thank you. I rise in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2024.

I’d like to commend Chairwoman Granger for her leadership of the Appropriations Committee and for getting the first six bills across the finish line. I would also like to thank the Interior Subcommittee Ranking Member Pingree for her partnership.

Together, we’ve negotiated a reasonable compromise to avoid a government shutdown that fails to respond to our nation’s needs and maintain our public lands.

The Interior and Environment division provides non-defense topline resources totaling $38.9 billion – nearly 4 percent below the FY23 level.

Cutting funding is never easy, but with the national debt in excess of $34 trillion, we made tough choices in this bill to rein in federal spending.

Last Congress alone, $3 trillion was spent outside of the normal appropriations process. As I have said repeatedly, simply holding funding flat is not enough. We must curb out-of-control spending and get our budget back on track. I am pleased that this bill does just that.

We reduced funding across most agencies and bureaus, and the Environmental Protection Agency is cut by nearly 10 percent.

Despite the reduced allocation, the bill provides an additional $34 million for healthcare, law enforcement, and related programs across Indian Country.

And for the Indian Health Service, the bill continues advance appropriations totaling $5.2 billion.

The bill also fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program and provides an additional $260 million to maintain wildland firefighter pay without irresponsible budget gimmicks.

In terms of policy, the bill maintains longstanding legacy riders to prevent an E.S.A. listing of sage-grouse and to exempt farmers and livestock producers from burdensome greenhouse gas permitting requirements.

The bill bolsters our energy independence by encouraging domestic production of critical and rare earth minerals and rejects Administration proposals to increase offshore energy inspection fees and authorize onshore inspection fees.

And, for my constituents in Idaho, I am especially pleased that the bill blocks the Lava Ridge Wind Project until the Interior Secretary analyzes – in consultation with local officials and stakeholders – alternate plans to reduce the harmful impacts of the project.

In closing, I want to thank all the Members for their work on this bill.

It represents a fair compromise that allows us to meet the spending level agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and manage our public lands.

I urge my colleagues to vote YES, and I yield back.