UPDATE 12/16: Late last night, House and Senate conferees signed off on a conference report for the “megabus” package of several FY12 spending bills. Rather than moving forward with the package released by the House yesterday (and initially described below), both chambers will now consider and vote on the conference report (H.R. 2055) within the next 48 hours or so. Content of the two versions is nearly identical–only the vehicle is different. Explanatory information for the bills has also been released and additional details are now included below.
12/15: Today, the House unveiled its “megabus” proposal (H.R. 3571) for fiscal year 2012 appropriations. The large package of bills contains 9 pieces of spending legislation, including Energy & Water and Interior & Environment. Some highlights are below, more will be added as it becomes available.
The current continuing resolution expires at midnight tomorrow — it is unclear if this package will be approved by both chambers of Congress by then, but votes are expected tomorrow, and “votes are possible this weekend and next week.”
Energy & Water: Provides the US Army Corps of Engineers with $5 billion, $145 billion above FY11. (Explanation)
- Operation & Maintenance: $2.412 billion
- O&M Delaware River: Philadelphia to the sea, $20.989 million; Philadelphia to Trenton, $1.073 million
- Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery: $4.9 million
Interior & Environment: Provides the US Environmental Protection Agency with $8.4 billion, $233 million below FY11. (Explanation)
- Chesapeake Bay Program: $57.391 million; $2 million for small watershed grants
- Chesapeake Bay Executive Order: $1.5 million; directive for an analysis of endocrine disruptors
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1.469 billion; -$56 million FY11 (State by state breakdown)
- National Estuary Program: $27.058 million
Provides the Interior Department with $10.3 billion, $310 million below FY11.
- US Fish & Wildlife Service: $1.5 billion, -$28 million FY11
- North American Wetlands Conservation Act: $35.554 million, -$2 million FY11
- Land & Water Conservation Fund: $322 million (needs verification)
Most controversial policy riders that were included in early drafts of these appropriations bills have not been included in the final megabus.