Washington, DC (May 17, 2007) – After years of disproportionate funding cuts for the environment and natural resources, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have passed a budget resolution which takes a decisive step in the right direction, according to environment and policy experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

 

The FY 2008 budget resolution conference report, passed by both houses of Congress this evening, provides a crucial $31.9 billion in discretionary spending for natural resource and environment programs.

 

This is $3.2 billion (11 percent) above the amount that President Bush’s asked for in the FY 2008 budget. It is also $1.6 billion (5 percent) above the FY 2007 enacted level. 

 

“These increases will provide crucial down payments to improve our environment. Cuts in recent years to Function 300, which funds the federal government’s environment and natural resource programs, meant closing National Wildlife Refuges, more pollution in our water and air, and the loss of vital open space and wildlife habitat,” Craig Harper, director of the Public Lands Funding Initiative at NRDC, said.

 

Over the next five years (2008-2012), this resolution would provide $20.7 billion (14 percent) more than the President's plan for that time period.