Us Congress House Bill HB2174

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/29/23
• Refer: 3/29/23

Caption

To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for U.S. Department of Interior, Oil Spill Research for fiscal year 2024.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2174 would directly impact the research efforts surrounding oil spill responses and remediation efforts conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior. By setting a fixed cap on funding, the bill potentially limits the scope and scale of oil spill research projects that can be undertaken in 2024. This could affect the development of new technologies and methodologies necessary for effective oil spill management, which may have long-term ramifications for environmental protection and response efficacy.

Summary

House Bill 2174 proposes a limitation on the availability of funds allocated for oil spill research by the U.S. Department of the Interior for the fiscal year 2024. The bill explicitly caps the funding at $14,899,000, which is meant to ensure that financial resources are not exceeded for this particular area of research. The intention behind this limitation is to prioritize spending in specific budgetary areas while maintaining a focus on critical environmental research. Supporters of the bill might argue that such fiscal restraint is necessary for more responsible government spending.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding HB 2174 may include concerns raised about insufficient funding for critical research that could prevent or mitigate the adverse environmental effects of oil spills. Environmental advocacy groups are likely to argue that limiting funding could lead to inadequate preparedness in the event of an oil spill disaster, jeopardizing ecosystems and communities dependent on healthy waterways. Additionally, lawmakers could debate the prioritization of such budget cuts amid rising concerns over climate change and environmental resilience.