Jim Nussle: “the measure before us today--the appropriations act for Energy and Water Development--joins the early wave of…”

“the measure before us today--the appropriations act for Energy and Water Development--joins the early wave of discretionary spending bills pursuant to the recently adopted budget resolution for fiscal year 2006 (H. Con. Res. 95). As the name suggests, this bill provides for the Nation's energy and water development needs, with funding for all of the Department of Energy, and select activities of the Departments of Defense and the Interior, including the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. While the government's overall energy strategy is now being discussed in a conference on H.R. 6, the bill before us today provides a vital additional component of the Nation's energy policies. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, I am pleased to note that this bill complies with the budget resolution, and also reflects a responsible set of budgetary choices. Although the Appropriations Committee provided more funding that the President in certain areas, they still achieved a modest but real reduction in total spending for this bill, compared with fiscal year 2005. Energy and Water Development H.R. 2419 provides $29.7 billion in appropriations for fiscal year 2006. This is $410 million, or 1.3 percent, below the fiscal year 2005 level, and equal to the President's request.…”