"Appropriations: Omnibus Boosts Most Interior Programs But Cuts LWCF"

"Most of the Interior Department's programs would receive more money under the fiscal 2017 omnibus funding bill lawmakers released earlier today, with one notable exception: the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The $1 trillion spending package would provide $12.3 billion for Interior, $42 million more than enacted levels, for the remaining five months of fiscal 2017, which ends Sept. 30.

The Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service all would see more money under the bill, which included few policy riders for the agencies.

But the spending package would cut the LWCF, which has broad bipartisan support and is set to expire in fiscal 2018. The bill would fund it at $400 million, $50 million less than the fiscal 2016 enacted level."

Kellie Lunney reports for Greenwire May 1, 2017.