WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding the committee’s approval of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017 and the Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017.

“As West Virginia continues to suffer from job loss caused by this administration’s anti-coal policies, we are also grappling with the devastating drug epidemic and a lack of adequate infrastructure needed to attract new businesses and opportunity. I am proud that the Appropriations Committee has advanced two bills with my input that take a stand against the war on coal, and boost initiatives to fight the drug epidemic, improve rural broadband access and strengthen our economy,” said Senator Capito.


Highlights of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017:

  • Cuts the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget $31.2 million from last year and stops executive overreach by:
  • Prohibiting the Stream Buffer Zone rule, which would substantially impair the domestic coal industry’s ability to meet the nation’s energy needs.
  • Prohibiting the EPA Waters of the United States rule.
  • Continuing to prohibit the EPA from regulating certain types of ammunition and fishing tackle.
  • While cuts are made to EPA programs and offices that have overreached in implementing their anti-coal agenda, increased funding is provided for the agency’s intended functions. For example, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and the Water Infrastructure Finance Act (WIFIA) program is funded at $30 million.
  • Provides $90 million for the continuation of a pilot program in the Office of Surface Mining to help address reclamation and economic development for areas in West Virginia and other coal-producing states that have been disproportionally harmed by anti-coal policies.
  • Fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at $480 million. Several counties in West Virginia benefit from this program.

Highlights of the Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017:

  • Funds the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program by an additional $5 million, totaling $250 million. HIDTA provides critical assistance to law enforcement agencies operating in drug-trafficking areas throughout the country. There are 19 counties in West Virginia in the HIDTA Program. 
  • The Drug Free Communities Program receives $95 million to provide grants to community organizations, aiming to reduce youth substance abuse at the local level. 

  • Includes language to improve accountability at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for programs that aim to expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas such as West Virginia.

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