Expert Blog

No Backsies: Rescission Bill Should Be Opposed

After passing a trillion-dollar tax scam that gave huge benefits to wealthy corporations like oil companies and will leave the federal government running huge deficits for the next decade, suddenly President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are trying to deceive the American public into thinking they care about federal spending.
Marc Boom
Director, Federal Affairs, Center for Policy Advocacy

After passing a trillion-dollar tax scam that gave huge benefits to wealthy corporations like oil companies and will leave the federal government running huge deficits for the next decade, suddenly President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are trying to deceive the American public into thinking they care about federal spending.

A rescission package (a bill to take away previously appropriated funds) just passed the House of Representatives and since it’s an idea from this administration, its harmful to everyday Americans and based on twisted facts, yet also poorly conceived and ineffective at its mission. Ostensibly that mission is to cut federal spending, but the package won’t make a dent in the federal deficit. Instead it cuts programs, including those that help protect our health and environment. 

Some examples of environmental and clean energy programs cuts include:

  • $4.3 billion cut from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program
  • $685 million cut from the Title XVII Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program
  • $13 million cut to the Rural Utility Service’s High Energy Cost Grants program
  • $37 million cuts from the USDA’s Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program
  • $50 million in cuts to the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Watershed and Flood Operations program
  • $335 million in cuts for three NRCS easement programs that were merged into the larger Agricultural Conservation Easement Program in the 2014 Farm Bill
  • $144 million cut from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
  • $12.9 million cut from the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, which was merged into the EQIP program during the 2014 Farm Bill
  • $16 million cut to the United States Forest Service Land and Water Conservation Fund land acquisition program

In each case, the administration twists the facts to claim that these funds are no longer needed, but in fact most of the funds are identified for future use and those balances continue to support critical goals and projects nationwide.

That’s why NRDC and 11 other organizations oppose H.R. 3 and sent a letter to members of Congress urging that they do the same. We hope the Senate will reject this harmful House action.

You can read our letter here which describes in greater detail the importance of these programs.