Haaland defends Biden budget during friendly hearing

摘要

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland returned to Capitol Hill today to make the case for the Biden administration's fiscal 2022 budget proposal. In her first virtual appearance before Congress as a Cabinet secretary, the former New Mexico Democratic lawmaker received a warm personal reception before the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, though the budget discussions largely skimmed the surface. The $17.4 billion initial budget request for the Interior Department in fiscal 2022 is $2.4 billion, or 16.3%, above the department's fiscal 2021 enacted funding level (Greenwire, April 9). "This request stands in stark contrast to the proposals for Interior during the last four years, which were, on average, $2 billion below the actual amounts appropriated by this subcommittee," Haaland stated. The panel's chair, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), concurred that "this budget is a refreshing change from the draconian budgets the committee has received over the last four years." Republicans cautioned, though, about budget constraints, and many details remain to be fleshed out in a full request expected later this year.