McCollum Statement on the House Passage of the FY19 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), the Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the House approved the FY2019 Interior-Environment appropriations bill:

Today, House Republicans passed an Interior-Environment appropriations bill that fails the American people. This bill cuts environmental protections; removes safeguards for our air, water, and endangered species; and allows rampant corruption at the Executive Branch to go unchecked.

It was an honor to lead House Democrats over two days of debate in our efforts to improve the bill. Democrats were able to secure a few meaningful victories on the floor when we defeated amendments that attacked the Antiquities Act, grants for Environmental Justice, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. However, the Republican majority made this bad bill even worse by adding toxic partisan riders and making deeper cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

There were a few bright spots of bipartisan cooperation in this bill, including increases in funding for our National Parks; defending the arts and humanities; and continued support for Native American health, education and safety. But this is not enough to overcome the elements of this bill that put our environment and public health at risk. That is why Democrats were united in voting against this bill.

We owe it to the American people to do better. I look forward to working with the Chairman and my colleagues in the Senate to bring a better bill back to the House Floor.