House Republicans Protect America From Efficient Light Bulbs, Low-Flow Toilets
Huffington Post, July 11, 2014The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act on Thursday night by a vote of 253 to 170. What may appear to be a mundane spending bill includes a number of measures meant to undo environmental programs.
The House version of the spending bill:
1. Slashes funding for renewable energy programs in the Department of Energy by more than $100 million, while boosting funding for coal and other fossil fuels. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said the bill “targets lower-priority programs for cuts.” (The reduction originally was bigger, but a Democratic amendment added some money for renewables and efficiency back into the package.)