Environmental efforts adversely effected by new spending bill

U.S. President Barack Obama signed the federal spending bill on December 9, 2014 which included a number of setbacks adversely affecting the country’s environmental efforts.

The signing of this bill is one of the last acts of a congress that is under the Democratic-controlled senate. Congress changing hands does not bode well with climate change activists and environmentalists. Come January, both chambers of Congress will open with a new Republican mask.

“Cromnibus” is the term the spending bill is called. It is a shortened name for “Continuing Resolution plus omnibus” and it passed the senate on December 13, 2014 by a vote of 56-40.

Environmental setbacks as Republicans take charge

The total amount of the bill is $1.1 trillion. It will fund almost the entire expenses of the Government until September 30, 2015, the end of the fiscal year. Funds of the Department of Homeland Security were exhausted on the February 27 earlier this year.

This new bill includes cuts negotiated in previous budget debates and rolls back a number of banking regulations. However, a Huffington Post news item reveals that the bill retains spending for Obama’s health care law and funds the fight against Ebola by the present administration. Where the bill falls short is on the environment.

Spending bill falling short where environmental responsibility is concerned

The new spending bill does not inspire much hope for those who are working to see America do more on climate change and other environmental issues.

ThinkProgress.org says in an article that the bill includes “multiple attempts to undermine environmental efforts in the United States.” This website citing the following examples to further their point:

– The bill does not give much optimism for environmental spending

The newly signed bill drastically cut the Environmental Protection Agency funds. EPA’s budget, as prescribed by this bill will be lower by $60 million compared to its 2014 budget.

– The bill nullified U.S. pledge to the green climate fund

environmental

The bill explicitly stated that: “no funds may be made available for the Green Climate Fund.”

– The bill eases off restrictions on U.S. funding for overseas coal.

The crafted language of the bill puts U.S. financing of overseas coal-fired power plants back into the national discussion.

It states “This provision is expected to increase affordable electricity, especially to those without current access to electricity, as well as to support increased exports from the United States and prevent the loss of United States jobs.”

– The bill made it easy for big oil leases of BLM land in Nevada.

This bill blocks federal funding for determining whether the Gunnison sage grouse or Greater sage grouse are eligible to be registered under the Endangered Species Act. These birds are caught in the middle of the debate between energy companies, ranchers and environmentalists.

– The bill prohibited spending on light and bulb efficiency.

Since Congress does not need efficient lighting in their backroom dealings, they forbid spending on the improvement of lighting efficiencies.

– The bill prohibited spending on lead ammunition restrictions.

The lead contained in ammunition’s harms birds and other scavengers preying on bullet-ridden carcasses left by hunters in the forests.

 

AmericanSolarQuotes.com
This article was originally published by Eddy Buckley on AmericanSolarQuotes.com

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