# Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR46519 ## Record - **Collection:** Congressional research report - **Document type:** CRS Report - **Published:** June 28, 2021 - **Citation:** R46519 ## Text Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Updated June 28, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R46519 SUMMARY Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations R46519 June 28, 2021 Carol Hardy Vincent Specialist in Natural The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill contains funding Resources Policy for three dozen agencies and entities. They include most of the Department of the Interior (DOI) as well as agencies within other departments, such as the Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill also provides funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arts and cultural agencies, and other organizations and entities. Issues for Congress included determining the amount, terms, and conditions of funding for agencies and programs. P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained $38.52 billion for FY2021 for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (in Division G). This total included $36.17 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion for wildfire suppression under a discretionary cap adjustment. Earlier, President Trump’s request, a House-passed bill, and a Senate Appropriations Committee majority draft bill all supported this wildfire suppression adjustment; it consisted of $2.04 billion for the Forest Service and $310.0 million for DOI. Of the $38.52 billion enacted for FY2021, the 11 major DOI agencies in Title I of the law received $13.72 billion, or 35.6% of the total. For EPA, funded in Title II, the FY2021 law contained $9.24 billion, or 24.0% of the total. For the 24 agencies and other entities funded in Title III (“related agencies”), the FY2021 law provided $15.56 billion, or 40.4% of the total. Overall, nearly three-quarters of the $38.52 billion was for five agencies: EPA, Forest Service, Indian Health Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs . The FY2021 enacted total was $2.19 billion (5.4%) lower than the FY2020 enacted total of $40.72 billion, which included $2.41 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for coronavirus preparedness and response and activities related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. However, the FY2021 enacted total was $0.2 million (0.6%) higher than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 billion (in P.L. 116-94, Division D). The FY2021 enacted total was $4.46 billion (13.1%) higher than President Trump’s FY2021 request of $34.07 billion. Many agencies in the bill received higher enacted appropriations than President Trump requested, including the EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Education, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Of the $34.07 billion requested, President Trump had sought the following amounts: for DOI agencies, $12.05 billion, or 35.4% of the total requested; for EPA, $6.70 billion, or 19.7% of the total requested; and for the related agencies in Title III of the bill, $15.31 billion, or 44.9% of the total. Prior to enactment of P.L. 116-260, the House had passed an earlier FY2021 Interior appropriations bill. H.R. 7608, as passed by the House on July 24, 2020, contained $54.67 billion (in Division C) for agencies in the Interior bill. This total included $39.17 billion in annual appropriations and $15.50 billion in emergency appropriations for additional infrastructure investments of three agencies (EPA, the Indian Health Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs). The FY2021 enacted appropriations law did not include this infrastructure funding. To further negotiations between the House and the Senate, on November 10, 2020, the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations released a draft Interior bill along with a draft accompanying explanatory statement. This Senate Appropriations Committee majority draft bill contained $38.22 billion in annual appropriations . Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, by Major Title, FY2020-FY2021 Source: Prepared by the Congressional Research Service with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Notes: The FY2020 regular appropriation in P.L. 116-94 also contained a $1.0 million rescission in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2020 enacted total reflects $2.41 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for several agencies for coronavirus and other purposes. This emergency supplemental money was contained in three laws: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 million), P.L. 116-127 ($64.0 million), and P.L. 116-136 ($2.04 billion). The FY2021 request also included $4.0 million in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2021 regular appropriation was contained in P.L. 116-260. Congressional Research Service Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Content of Report ...................................................................................................... 1 Overview of FY2021 Legislative Action ....................................................................... 1 Overview of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies..................................................... 3 Title I. Department of the Interior................................................................................. 3 Title II. Environmental Protection Agency ..................................................................... 6 Title III. Related Agencies........................................................................................... 6 FY2021 Appropriations.................................................................................................... 7 Components of President Trump’s Request.................................................................... 7 Components of FY2021 Enacted Bill............................................................................ 9 Comparing FY2020 Enacted, FY2021 Requested, and FY2021 Enacted Appropriations........................................................................................................ 9 Figures Figure 1. Components of President Trump’s FY2021 Request for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies .................................................................................................... 8 Figure 2. Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, by Major Title, FY2020-FY2021 ........................................................................................................ 11 Tables Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2020-FY2021 Appropriations .......... 11 Contacts Author Information ....................................................................................................... 14 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Introduction Content of Report This report focuses on FY2021 discretionary appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. 1 Issues for Congress included determining the amount of funding for agencies and programs in the bill and the terms and conditions of such funding. This report first presents a short overview of FY2021 legislative action. It next provides an overview of the agencies and other entities funded in the Interior bill. It then describes the appropriations requested by President Trump for FY2021 for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and the appropriations enacted for FY2021. Subsequently, the report briefly compares the total appropriations enacted for FY2020, 2 requested by President Trump for FY2021, and enacted for FY2021. Finally, it provides a table showing each agency’s appropriations enacted for FY2020, requested for FY2021, and enacted for FY2021. Appropriations are complex. Budget justifications for some agencies are large (often a few hundred pages long) and contain numerous funding, programmatic, and legislative changes for congressional consideration. Further, appropriations laws provide funds for numerous accounts, activities, and sub-activities, and their accompanying explanatory statements provide additional directives and other important information. This report does not provide in-depth information at the agency, account, and subaccount levels, nor does it generally detail budgetary reorganizations or legislative changes enacted in law or proposed for FY2021. For information on a particular agency or on individual accounts, programs, or activities administered by a particular agency, see the CRS products footnoted throughout this report or contact the key policy staff listed at the end of this report. In addition, selected reports related to appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, such as individual agencies (e.g., National Park Service) or cross-cutting programs (e.g., Wildland Fire Management), are listed under “Interior & Environment Appropriations” on the “Appropriations” Issue Area page on the Congressional Research Service (CRS) website. 3 Overview of FY2021 Legislative Action For FY2021, President Trump sought $34.07 billion for agencies in the Interior bill, including $31.72 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion for wildfire suppression under a 1 Hereinafter, the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill is sometimes referred to as the Interior bill. Many of the agencies that receive discretionary appropriations through the Interior bill also receive mandatory appropriations under various authorizing statutes. T his report does not address mandatory appropriations. For information on mandatory appropriations of the four main federal land management agencies—Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Park Service—see CRS Report R45994, Federal Land Management Agencies’ Mandatory Appropriations Accounts, coordinated by Carol Hardy Vincent . 2 Regular appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for FY2020 were included in Division D of P.L. 116-94, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. Emergency supplemental appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for FY2020 were included in three laws: P.L. 116-113, T itle IX of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act; P.L. 116-127, Division A of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act; and P.L. 116-136, Division B, T itle VII of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). 3 T he “Interior & Environment Appropriations” subissue page is on the CRS website at https://www.crs.gov/iap/ appropriations. Congressional Research Service 1 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations discretionary cap adjustment. 4 These additional wildfire funds essentially are exempt from discretionary spending limits. On July 14, 2020, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 7612 (accompanied by H.Rept. 116-448). As reported by the committee, H.R. 7612 contained $54.17 billion for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. More specifically, the reported bill contained $39.17 billion, composed of $36.82 in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion for wildfire suppression under the discretionary cap adjustment, and $15.0 billion in emergency appropriations for additional infrastructure investments in a proposed new Title V. Subsequently, on July 24, 2020, the House passed H.R. 7608, containing FY2021 appropriations of $54.67 billion (in Division C) for agencies in the Interior bill. This total included $39.17 billion in annual appropriations, composed of $36.82 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion as requested by President Trump for wildfire suppression under the cap adjustment. A proposed new Title V included $15.50 billion in emergency appropriations for additional infrastructure investments of three agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, $13.50 billion), the Indian Health Service ($1.50 billion), and the Bureau of Indian Affairs ($0.50 billion). 5 Among other activities, the funds would have been used for the following purposes. For EPA, funds would have been directed to State and Tribal Assistance Grants, including for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds; the Hazardous Substance Superfund program, including cleanup activities; and the Office of Inspector General. For the Indian Health Service, monies would have been used for health facilities construction, maintenance and improvements, and equipment. For the Bureau of Indian Education, funding would have been provided for education construction generally, to include construction, repair, and improvement of schools, utilities, and other facilities. All Title V funds would have been available for multiple years, with most of the funds available until expended. On November 10, 2020, the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations released a draft Interior bill along with a draft accompanying explanatory statement.6 The release of the draft bill facilitated further negotiations between the House and the Senate. 7 This Senate Appropriations Committee majority draft bill contained $38.22 billion in annual appropriations, composed of $35.87 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion as requested for wildfire suppression under the cap adjustment. 4 Under Division O of P.L. 115-141, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, an adjustment can be m ade to discretionary spending limits to accommodate enacted funding for wildfire suppression. T he adjustment may not exceed specified amounts for each of FY2020-FY2027. For information on discretionary spending limits, see CRS In Focus IF10647, The Budget Resolution and the Budget Control Act’s Discretionary Spending Limits, by Megan S. Lynch; CRS Report R44874, The Budget Control Act: Frequently Asked Questions, by Grant A. Driessen and Megan S. Lynch; and CRS Report R45778, Exceptions to the Budget Control Act’s Discretionary Spending Limits, by Megan S. Lynch, especially p. 8. For a discussion of the cap adjustment for wildfire suppression, see CRS In Focus IF11675, Wildfire Management Funding: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie Hoover, and CRS Report R46583, Federal Wildfire Management: Ten-Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011-FY2020), by Katie Hoover. 5 T he primary difference between H.R. 7612 as reported and H.R. 7608 as passed was an additional $0.50 billion for infrastructure investments of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in H.R. 7608. 6 T he draft bill and explanatory statement are on the committee’s website linked to the majority press release at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/committee-releases-fy21-bills-in-effort-to-advance-process-producebipartisan-results. 7 Ibid. See also the statement from the Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Senator Patrick Leahy at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/senate-approps-vice-chair-leahy-statement-on-the-release-of-thefy-2021-senate-appropriations-bills-. Congressional Research Service 2 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained $38.52 billion for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (in Division G). This total included $36.17 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion for wildfire suppression under the discretionary cap adjustment. The law did not include emergency appropriations for additional infrastructure investments as had been approved earlier by the House in H.R. 7608. Overview of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies The annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill includes funding and other provisions for agencies and programs in three federal departments and for numerous related agencies. The Interior bill typically contains three primary appropriations titles and a fourth title with general provisions. Title I provides funding for most Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies, 8 many of which manage land and other natural resource or regulatory programs. Title I also typically includes general provisions related to DOI agencies. Title II contains appropriations and administrative provisions for EPA. Title III, Related Agencies, currently funds 24 agencies in other departments, such as the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services; arts and cultural agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution; and various other organizations and entities. Title III also contains administrative provisions for some agencies funded therein. Title IV, General Provisions, typically contains additional guidance and direction for agencies in the bill. Selected major agencies in the Interior bill are briefly described below. Title I. Department of the Interior9 DOI’s mission is to conserve and manage the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provide scientific and other information about those resources and natural hazards; and exercise trust responsibilities and other commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities. 10 There are nine DOI agencies and two other broad accounts funded in the Interior bill that carry out this mission. Hereinafter, these 11 agencies and broad accounts are referred to collectively as the DOI “agencies.” The DOI agencies and their functions funded in the Interior bill include the following:  The Bureau of Land Management administers about 244 million acres of federal public land, mostly in the West, for diverse uses such as energy and mineral development, livestock grazing, recreation, and preservation. The agency also is responsible for more than 700 million acres of federal onshore subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation and supervises the mineral operations on about 60 million acres of Indian trust lands. 11 8 T he exceptions are the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project, which receive appropriations through Energy and Water Development appropriations laws. For information on FY2021 appropriations for these entities, see CRS Report R46384, Energy and Water Development: FY2021 Appropriations, by Mark Holt and Corrie E. Clark. 9 For additional background on the Department of the Interior (DOI) and its agencies, see CRS Report R45480, U.S. Department of the Interior: An Overview, by Mark K. DeSantis. 10 T his statement is taken from the DOI website at https://www.doi.gov/abouthttps://www.doi.gov/whoweare. 11 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Land Management, see CRS In Focus IF11590, Bureau of Land Management: FY2021 Appropriations, by Carol Hardy Vincent . Congressional Research Service 3 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers 89 million acres of federal land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and other areas, 12 including 77 million acres in Alaska. It also manages several large marine refuges and marine national monuments, sometimes jointly with other federal agencies. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, together with the National Marine Fisheries Service (Department of Commerce), is responsible for implementing the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §§1531 et seq.); promoting wildlife habitat; enforcing federal wildlife laws; supporting wildlife and ecosystem science; conserving migratory birds; administering grants to aid state fish and wildlife programs; and coordinating with state, international, and other federal agencies on fish and wildlife issues. 13 The National Park Service administers 80 million acres of federal land within the National Park System, including 423 separate units in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Roughly two-thirds of the system’s lands are in Alaska. The National Park Service has a dual mission—to preserve unique resources and to provide for their enjoyment by the public. The agency also supports and promotes some resource conservation activities outside the National Park System through grant and technical assistance programs and cooperation with partners. 14 The U.S. Geological Survey is a science agency that provides physical and biological information related to geological resources; natural hazards; climate and land use change; and energy, mineral, water, and biological sciences and resources. In addition, it is the federal government’s principal civilian mapping agency (e.g., topographical and geological mapping) and a primary source of data on the quantity and quality of the nation’s water resources (e.g., streamgaging).15 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages development of the nation’s offshore conventional and renewable energy resources in the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Arctic. These resources are located in areas covering approximately 1.7 billion acres located beyond state waters, mostly in the Alaska region (more than 1 billion acres) but also off all coastal states. 16 The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement provides regulatory and safety oversight for resource development in the outer continental shelf. Among 12 T his is the acreage over which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has primary jurisdiction in the United States and the territories. T he figure excludes acreage in marine national monuments over which the agency also has jurisdiction. 13 For additional information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, see CRS Report R45265, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: An Overview, by R. Eliot Crafton. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, see CRS In Focus IF11470, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2021 Appropriations, by R. Eliot Crafton. 14 For a discussion of the different types of national park units and an overview of their management, see CRS Report R41816, National Park System: What Do the Different Park Titles Signify?, by Laura B. Comay. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the National Park Service, see CRS In Focus IF11661, National Park Service: FY2021 Appropriations, by Laura B. Comay. For an overview of National Park Service appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R42757, National Park Service Appropriations: Ten-Year Trends, by Laura B. Comay. 15 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the U.S. Geological Survey, see CRS In Focus IF11433, The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2021 Appropriations Process and Background , by Anna E. Normand. 16 For a discussion of state and federal waters, see CRS Report RL33404, Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework, by Adam Vann. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, see CRS In Focus IF11752, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2021 , by Laura B. Comay. Congressional Research Service 4 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations its responsibilities are oil and gas permitting, facility inspections, environmental compliance, and oil spill response planning. 17  The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement works with states and tribes to reclaim abandoned coal mining sites. The agency also regulates active coal mining sites to minimize environmental impacts during mining and to reclaim affected lands and waters after mining. 18  Indian Affairs agencies provide and fund a variety of services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. 19 Historically, these agencies have taken the lead in federal dealings with tribes. The Bureau of Indian Education funds an elementary and secondary school system, institutions of higher education, and other educational programs. 20 The Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for programs that include government operations, courts, law enforcement, fire protection, social programs, roads, economic development, employment assistance, housing repair, irrigation, dams, Indian rights protection, implementation of land and water settlements, and management of trust assets (real estate and natural resources). 21 Departmental Offices cover diverse offices and programs. In FY2021, they included the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, Insular Affairs, Office of the Solicitor, and Office of Inspector General. 22   Department-Wide Programs cover varied programs and entities. In FY2021, they included DOI Wildland Fire Management, the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, the Working Capital Fund, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue. 23 17 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforceme nt, see CRS In Focus IF11752, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2021 , by Laura B. Comay. 18 For additional information on the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, see CRS Report R46266, The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund: Reauthorization Issues in the 116th Congress, by Lance N. Larson, and CRS Report R46610, Reclamation of Coal Mining Operations: Select Issues and Legislation, by Lance N. Larson. 19 T his description reflects appropriations for “Indian Affairs” for FY2021. FY2021 appropriations for Indian Affairs included funding for two separate bureaus—the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education—and the Office of the Special T rustee for American Indians. 20 For a discussion of Indian education programs, see CRS Report RL34205, Indian Elementary-Secondary Education: Programs, Background, and Issues, by Cassandria Dortch; and CRS In Focus IF10554, Postsecondary Education of Native Americans, by Cassandria Dortch. 21 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, see CRS In Focus IF11602, The Bureau of Indian Affairs: FY2021 Appropriations, by T ana Fitzpatrick. 22 An overview of the responsibilities of these entities is on the DOI website at https://www.doi.gov/bureaus/offices. 23 Descriptions of these programs are contained on the DOI website as follows. For DOI wildland fire management, see https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire. For the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, see https://www.doi.gov/oepc/centralhazardous-materials-fund-chf. For the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, see Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2021, Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program at https://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2021. For the Working Capital Fund, see Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2021, Office of the Secretary, Department-Wide Programs, pp. OS-13-OS-14, at https://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2021. For the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, see https://www.onrr.gov/. Also, for an overview of FY2021 appropriations for wildland fire management, see CRS In Focus IF11675, Wildfire Management Funding: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie Hoover. For an overview of wildland fire management appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R46583, Federal Wildfire Management: TenYear Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011-FY2020), by Katie Hoover. Congressional Research Service 5 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Title II. Environmental Protection Agency EPA has no organic statute establishing an overall mission; rather, the agency administers various environmental statutes that have an express or general objective to protect human health and the environment. Primary responsibilities include the implementation of federal statutes regulating air quality, water quality, drinking water safety, pesticides, toxic substances, management and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and cleanup of environmental contamination. EPA awards grants to assist states and local governments in implementing federal law and complying with federal requirements to control pollution. The agency also administers programs that provide financial assistance for public wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. 24 Title III. Related Agencies Title III of the Interior bill currently funds 24 agencies, organizations, and other entities, which are collectively referred to as the “Related Agencies.” Among the Related Agencies funded in the Interior bill, roughly 95% of the funding is typically provided to the following:    The Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture manages 193 million acres of federal land within the National Forest System—consisting of national forests, national grasslands, and other areas—in 43 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It also provides technical and financial assistance to states, tribes, and private forest landowners and conducts research on sustaining forest resources for future generations. 25 The Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services provides medical and environmental health services for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Health care is provided through a system of facilities and programs operated by the agency, tribes and tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. The agency operates 24 hospitals, 50 health centers, 24 health stations, and 11 school health centers. Tribes and tribal organizations, through Indian Health Service contracts and compacts, operate another 22 hospitals, 285 health centers, 54 health stations, 127 Alaska village clinics, and 5 school health centers. 26 The Smithsonian Institution is a museum and research complex consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park (“National Zoo”), and 9 research facilities throughout the United States and around the world. 27 24 For a detailed compendium of environmental laws administered by EPA, see CRS Report RL30798, Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency , coordinated by David M. Bearden. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for EPA, see CRS In Focus IF11563, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2021 Appropriations, by Robert Esworthy and David M. Bearden. 25 For an overview of Forest Service land management, see CRS Report R43872, National Forest System Management: Overview, Appropriations, and Issues for Congress, by Katie Hoover and Anne A. Riddle. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Forest Service, see CRS In Focus IF11638, Forest Service: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie Hoover. For an overview of Forest Service appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R46557, Forest Service Appropriations: Ten-Year Data and Trends (FY2011-FY2020), by Katie Hoover. 26 Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS), Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, FY2021, p. CJ-68, at https://www.ihs.gov/budgetformulation/congressionaljustifications/. For additional information on the agency, see CRS Report R43330, The Indian Health Service (IHS): An Overview, by Elayne J. Heisler. 27 T hese statistics are from the Smithsonian Institution’s website at http://www.si.edu/About. Congressional Research Service 6 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations  Established by federal legislation in 1846 with the acceptance of a trust donation by the institution’s namesake benefactor, the Smithsonian is funded by both federal appropriations and a private trust. 28 The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities make up the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. The National Endowment for the Arts is a major federal source of support for all arts disciplines. Since 1965, it has awarded more than 145,000 grants, which have been distributed to all states. The National Endowment for the Humanities generally supports grants for humanities education, research, preservation, and public humanities programs; creation of regional humanities centers; and development of humanities programs under the jurisdiction of state humanities councils. Since 1965, it has awarded more than 64,000 grants. It also supports a Challenge Grant program to stimulate and match private donations in support of humanities institutions. FY2021 Appropriations Components of President Trump’s Request For FY2021, President Trump requested $34.07 billion for the 36 agencies and entities funded in FY2021 in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 29 This total included $31.72 billion in regular appropriations and $2.35 billion for c ertain wildfire suppression activities under an adjustment to discretionary spending limits for FY2021. Budget authority designated for those activities would cause the spending limits to be adjusted, making it effectively not subject to the limits. 30 The total request is broken out unevenly across the three major funding titles in Interior bills and among agencies and entities within each title, as is typically the case. For the 11 major DOI agencies in Title I of the bill, the request was $12.05 billion, or 35.4% of the $34.07 billion total requested. For EPA, funded in Title II of the bill, the request was $6.70 billion, or 19.7% of the total. For the 24 agencies and other entities currently funded in Title III of the bill, the request was $15.31 billion, or 44.9% of the total. Appropriations for agencies vary widely for reasons relating to the number, breadth, and complexity of agency responsibilities; alternative sources of funding (e.g., mandatory appropriations); and Administration and congressional priorities, among other factors. Thus, although the FY2021 request covered more than 30 agencies, funding for a small subset of these agencies accounted for most of the total. For example, the requested appropriations for three agencies—Forest Service, EPA, and Indian Health Service—were more than half (59.8%) of the total request. Further, nearly three-quarters (73.6%) of the request was for these three agencies and two others, National Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs. For DOI agencies, President Trump’s requests for FY2021 ranged from $116.2 million for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to $2.79 billion for the National Park 28 For an overview of the Smithsonian Institution and related issues for Congress, see CRS Report R44370, Smithsonian Institution: Background, Issues for Congress, and Selected Legislation, by R. Eric Petersen. 29 Agency and bill totals in this report generally reflect rescissions. 30 President T rump’s request for a $2.35 billion discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire suppression included $2.04 billion for the Forest Service and $310.0 million for DOI. Congressional Research Service 7 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Service. The requests for 5 of the 11 agencies exceeded $1 billion. Nearly two-fifths (39.0%) of the $12.05 billion requested for DOI agencies was for two agencies: the National Park Service ($2.79 billion) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs ($1.91 billion). For Related Agencies in Title III, President Trump’s requested funding levels exhibited more variation. They ranged from $0 for some agencies to $7.38 billion for the Forest Service. 31 The Indian Health Service, with a request of $6.29 billion, and the Smithsonian Institution, with a request of $1.11 billion, were the only other agencies in Title III for which the request was more than $1 billion. The next-largest request was $161.6 million for the National Gallery of Art. By contrast, 13 Title III entities each had requests of less than $10 million each. Figure 1 identifies the share of President Trump’s FY2021 request for particular agencies in the Interior bill. Figure 1. Components of President Trump’s FY2021 Request for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (in billions of dollars) Source: Prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Notes: The “Indian Affairs” request reflected funds for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. The FY2021 appropriations la w did not appropriate funds to the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration but rather to the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. Agencies shown in shades of red are in the Department of the Interior, Title I of the bill. The Environmental Protection Agency, shown in blue-grey, is in Title II of the bill. Agencies shown in shades of greenbrown are Related Agencies, Title III of the bill. Figures may not add to total shown due to rounding. 31As noted, the Forest Service request included $2.04 billion under a discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire suppression. Congressional Research Service 8 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Components of FY2021 Enacted Bill The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained $38.52 billion (Division G) for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. This total included $2.35 billion for wildfire suppression under the cap adjustment. 32 Of the $38.52 billion, the 11 major DOI agencies in Title I received $13.72 billion, or 35.6% of the total. For EPA, funded in Title II of the bill, the FY2021 law contained $9.24 billion, or 24.0% of the total. For the 24 agencies and other entities currently funded in Title III of the bill, the FY2021 law provided $15.56 billion, or 40.4% of the total. As in President Trump’s request, the FY2021 enacted appropriations for five agencies constituted nearly three-quarters of the $38.52 billion total. The appropriations for EPA, Forest Service, Indian Health Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs totaled $28.18 billion, or 73.2% of the total. For DOI agencies, the FY2021 enacted amounts ranged from $125.1 million for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to $3.12 billion for the National Park Service. The FY2021 enacted amounts for 7 of the 11 DOI agencies exceeded $1 billion. For Related Agencies in Title III, the FY2021 enacted amounts ranged from $0 for one agency to $7.42 billion for the Forest Service. 33 As under President Trump’s request, three Title III agencies received more than $1 billion; in addition to the Forest Service, these agencies included the Indian Health Service ($6.24 billion) and the Smithsonian Institution ($1.03 billion). The next-largest amounts in Title III were $176.4 million for the National Gallery of Art and $167.5 million for each of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For each of 11 Title III agencies, the FY2021 law included less than $10 million. Comparing FY2020 Enacted, FY2021 Requested, and FY2021 Enacted Appropriations For FY2020, the total enacted appropriation for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies was $40.72 billion. This total included    $38.30 billion in P.L. 116-94, Division D (composed of $36.05 billion in regular appropriations and a $2.25 billion discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire suppression);34 $308.0 million in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-113, Title IX, for EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for activities related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement;35 $64.0 million in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-127, Division A, for the Indian Health Service for coronavirus preparedness and response;36 and 32 T he $2.35 billion enacted for FY2021 included $2.04 billion for the Forest Service and $310.0 million for DOI. 33 T he Forest Service appropriation included $2.04 billion under a discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire suppression. T he entity for which the FY2021 enacted law included no funding was the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. 34 P.L. 116-94 was enacted as the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. 35 P.L. 116-113 was enacted as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act . 36 P.L. 116-127 was enacted as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act . Congressional Research Service 9 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations  $2.04 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-136, Division B, for coronavirus health response and agency operations. 37 Although the coronavirus monies were provided to several agencies, approximately threequarters of the funds (76.2%) were appropriated for three Indian-focused agencies: the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service (as shown in Table 1). For all agencies, the funds were appropriated “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally” and were available until September 30, 2021. 38 The FY2020 enacted, FY2021 requested, and FY2021 enacted levels included funding for wildfire suppression under the discretionary cap adjustment, as follows. The FY2020 enacted amount was $2.25 billion, and the amount requested and appropriated for FY2021 was $2.35 billion. These were the maximum amounts available under law for each of these years. 39 The FY2021 enacted total of $38.52 billion was $2.19 billion (5.4%) lower than the FY2020 enacted total of $40.72 billion due to the inclusion in the FY2020 total of emergency supplemental funding for coronavirus and other purposes. However, the FY2021 enacted level was $0.2 million (0.6%) higher than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 billion. The FY2021 enacted total of $38.52 billion was $4.46 billion (13.1%) higher than President Trump’s FY2021 request of $34.07 billion. This was the result of higher FY2021 appropriations for many agencies in the Interior bill, including the following increases over President Trump’s request: EPA, $2.53 billion; U.S. Geological Survey, $344.3 million; National Park Service, $330.1 million; Bureau of Indian Education, $292.8 million; and Bureau of Indian Affairs, $251.5 million. President Trump’s FY2021 request was $6.65 billion (16.3%) lower than the FY2020 enacted total of $40.72 billion, including emergency supplemental appropriations. It was $4.24 billion (11.1%) lower than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 billion. This was the result of lower funding requested by President Trump for many agencies relative to their FY2020 funding levels. Figure 2 depicts FY2020 enacted appropriations, FY2021 appropriations requested by President Trump, and FY2021 enacted appropriations. It shows the appropriations contained in each of the three main appropriations titles of the Interior bill—Title I (DOI), Title II (EPA), and Title III (Related Agencies). For FY2020 enacted appropriations, it depicts the regular annual appropriations in P.L. 116-94 and the emergency supplemental appropriations for coronavirus and other purposes in P.L. 116-113, P.L. 116-127, and P.L. 116-136. For FY2021 enacted appropriations, it depicts the regular annual appropriations in P.L. 116-260. Table 1, at the end of this report, lists the appropriations for each agency that were enacted for FY2020, requested by President Trump for FY2021, and enacted for FY2021. 37 P.L. 116-136 was enacted as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). 38 See P.L. 116-136, Division B, T itle VII. 39 2 U.S.C. §901(b)(2)(F). Congressional Research Service 10 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Figure 2. Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, by Major Title, FY2020-FY2021 Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Notes: The FY2020 regular appropriation in P.L. 116-94 also contained a $1.0 million rescission in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2020 enacted total reflects $2.41 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for several agencies for coronavirus and other purposes. This emergency supplemental money was contained in three laws: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 million), P.L. 116-127 ($64.0 million), and P.L. 116-136 ($2.04 billion). The FY2021 request also included $4.0 million in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2021 regular appropriation was contained in P.L. 116-260. Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2020-FY2021 Appropriations (in thousands of dollars) Bureau or Agency FY2020 Regular Enacted FY2020 Suppl. Enacted FY2020 Total Enacted FY2021 Admin. Request FY2021 Regular Enacted Title I: Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management $1,369,838 $0 $1,369,838 $1,222,358 $1,309,634 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service $1,643,520 $4,000 $1,647,520 $1,378,631 $1,583,861 National Park Service $3,377,284 $0 $3,377,284 $2,792,561 $3,122,651 U.S. Geological Survey $1,270,957 $0 $1,270,957 $971,185 $1,315,527 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management $131,611 $0 $131,611 $125,760 $127,760 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement $133,444 $0 $133,444 $130,339 $125,064 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement $257,481 $0 $257,481 $116,166 $222,599 $3,331,998 $522,000 $3,853,998 $2,960,824 $3,505,152 Bureau of Indian Affairs $2,032,124 $453,000 $2,485,124 $1,907,881 $2,159,384 Bureau of Indian Education $1,191,334 $69,000 $1,260,334 $944,544 $1,237,369 $0 $0 $0 $108,399 $0 Indian Affairsa Bureau of Trust Funds Administration Congressional Research Service 11 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Bureau or Agency Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians FY2020 Regular Enacted FY2020 Suppl. Enacted FY2020 Total Enacted FY2021 Admin. Request FY2021 Regular Enacted $108,540 $0 $108,540 $0 $108,399 $365,978 $213,400 $579,378 $363,292 $363,731 Office of the Secretary $131,832 158,400 290,232 $127,938 $103,210 Insular Affairs $111,344 55,000 166,344 $89,199 $115,156 Office of the Solicitor $66,816 $0 $66,816 $86,813 $86,813 Office of Inspector General $55,986 $0 $55,986 $59,342 $58,552 Department-Wide Programs $1,485,180 $0 $1,485,180 $1,546,660 $1,529,609 Wildland Fire Management $1,252,338 $0 $1,252,338 $1,313,090 $1,302,623 Central Hazardous Materials Fund $22,010 $0 $22,010 $1,874 $10,010 Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund $7,767 $0 $0 $4,709 $7,767 Working Capital Fund $55,735 $0 $0 $78,513 $60,735 Office of Natural Resources Revenue $147,330 $0 $0 $148,474 $148,474 General Provisions: Payments in Lieu of Taxesc $500,000 $0 $0 $441,976 $515,000 Subtotal, Title I: Department of the Interior $13,867,291 $739,400 $14,606,691 $12,050,752d $13,720,588 $9,057,401 $311,230 $9,368,631 $6,704,071 $9,237,153 $875 $0 $875 $875 $875 Forest Service $7,433,413 $70,800 $7,504,213 $7,378,836 $7,423,834 Indian Health Service $6,047,094 $1,096,000 $7,143,094 $6,293,568 $6,236,279 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences $81,000 $0 $81,000 $73,688 $81,500 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry $76,691 $12,500 $89,191 $62,000 $78,000 Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality $2,994 $0 $2,994 $3,500 $3,500 Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board $12,000 $0 $12,000 $10,200 $12,000 Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation $7,500 $0 $7,500 $4,000 $4,000 Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development $10,458 $78 $10,536 $10,710 $10,772 Smithsonian Institution $1,047,358 $7,500 $1,054,858 $1,110,313 $1,032,732 National Gallery of Art $173,225 $0 $173,225 $161,587 $176,445 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts $43,490 $25,000 $68,490 $40,400 $40,400 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars $14,000 $0 $14,000 $8,211 $14,000 National Endowment for the Arts $162,250 $75,000 $237,250 $30,175 $167,500 National Endowment for the Humanities $162,250 $75,000 $237,250 $33,420 $167,500 Departmental Officesb Title II: Environmental Protection Agency Subtotal, Title II: Environmental Protection Agency Title III: Related Agencies Dept. of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources & Environment Congressional Research Service 12 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations FY2020 Regular Enacted Bureau or Agency FY2020 Suppl. Enacted FY2020 Total Enacted FY2021 Admin. Request FY2021 Regular Enacted Commission of Fine Arts $3,240 $0 $3,240 $3,240 $3,240 National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs $5,000 $0 $5,000 $0 $5,000 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation $7,378 $0 $7,378 $7,400 $7,400 National Capital Planning Commission $8,124 $0 $8,124 $8,124 $8,124 U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum $60,388 $0 $60,388 $60,388 $61,388 Presidio Trust $10,000 $0 $10,000 -$1,000 $20,000 Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission $1,800 $0 $1,800 $1,000 $1,000 Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission $1,000 $0 $1,000 $0 $0 World War I Centennial Commission $7,000 $0 $7,000 $6,000 $7,000 Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children $500 $0 $500 $0 $500 $15,379,028 $1,361,878 $16,740,906 $15,306,635 $15,562,979 -$1,000 $0 -$1,000 $4,000 $0 $38,302,720 $2,412,508 $40,715,228 $34,065,458 $38,520,720 Subtotal, Title III: Related Agencies Title IV: General Provisions Subtotal, Title IV: General Provisions Total Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Agency and bill totals generally reflect rescissions. Notes: Regular appropriations for FY2020 were contained in P.L. 116-94, Division D. Three laws contained supplemental appropriations for FY2020: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 million); P.L. 116-127 ($64.0 million), and P.L. 116136 ($2.04 billion). Regular appropriations for FY2021 were contained in P.L. 116-260, Division G. a. This row shows total funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, which was funded in FY2020 as part of the Departmental Offices Account. For FY2021, President Trump sought to move the functions of the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians into a (proposed) new Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. The FY2021 appropriations were enacted for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians. b. For FY2020, appropriations for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indian s were provided as part of the Departmental Offices account. For FY2021, appropriations were requested for a proposed Bureau of Trust Funds Administration as part of the Indian Affairs account. For FY2021, appropriations were enacted for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians as part of the Ind ian Affairs account. For comparison purposes, all these appropriations are shown in the Indian Affairs account. c. The FY2020 enacted and FY2021 enacted appropriations for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program were included in the General Provisions of Title I. The FY2021 requested appropriations for the program were included under Department-Wide Programs. For easier comparison, all these appropriations are shown in this table under General Provisions. d. This figure includes $1.0 million for a general provision not shown in the column figures above. Congressional Research Service 13 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Author Information Carol Hardy Vincent Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Key Policy Staff Area of Expertise Name Interior Appropriations, coordinator Carol Hardy Vincent Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry David M. Bearden Bureau of Indian Affairs Tana Fitzpatrick Bureau of Indian Education Cassandria Dortch Bureau of Land Management Carol Hardy Vincent Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Laura B. Comay Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Laura B. Comay Environmental Protection Agency David M. Bearden Forest Service Katie Hoover Indian Health Service Elayne J. Heisler Land and Water Conservation Fund Carol Hardy Vincent Office of Insular Affairs R. Sam Garrett Office of Natural Resources Revenue Laura B. Comay Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Lance N. Larson National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities Shannon S. Loane National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Superfund authorities) David M. Bearden National Park Service Laura B. Comay Payments in Lieu of Taxes R. Eliot Crafton Reorganization of DOI Mark DeSantis; Carol Hardy Vincent Smithsonian Institution Shannon S. Loane U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service R. Eliot Crafton U.S. Geological Survey Anna E. Normand Wildland Fire Management Katie Hoover Congressional Research Service 14 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material. Congressional Research Service R46519 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED 15 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR46519. Public record. Not legal advice.