Union Calendar No. 481
118th CONGRESS 2D Session |
[Report No. 118–581]
Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.
July 11, 2024
Mr. Simpson, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Bureau Of Land Management
management of lands and resources
For necessary expenses for protection, use, improvement, development, disposal, cadastral surveying, classification, acquisition of easements and other interests in lands, and performance of other functions, including maintenance of facilities, as authorized by law, in the management of lands and their resources under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, including the general administration of the Bureau, and assessment of mineral potential of public lands pursuant to section 1010(a) of Public Law 96–487 (16 U.S.C. 3150(a)), $1,185,063,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026; of which $53,900,000 for annual maintenance and deferred maintenance programs and $143,000,000 for the wild horse and burro program, as authorized by Public Law 92–195 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), shall remain available until expended: Provided, That amounts in the fee account of the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund may be used for any bureau-related expenses associated with the processing of oil and gas applications for permits to drill and related use of authorizations: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, up to $1,000,000 may be made available for the purposes described in section 122(e)(1)(A) of division G of Public Law 115–31 (43 U.S.C. 1748c(e)(1)(A)): Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses.
In addition, $42,696,000 is for Mining Law Administration program operations, including the cost of administering the mining claim fee program, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropriation from mining claim maintenance fees and location fees that are hereby authorized for fiscal year 2025, so as to result in a final appropriation estimated at not more than $1,185,063,000, and $2,000,000, to remain available until expended, from communication site rental fees established by the Bureau for the cost of administering communication site activities.
oregon and california grant lands
For expenses necessary for management, protection, and development of resources and for construction, operation, and maintenance of access roads, reforestation, and other improvements on the revested Oregon and California Railroad grant lands, on other Federal lands in the Oregon and California land-grant counties of Oregon, and on adjacent rights-of-way; and acquisition of lands or interests therein, including existing connecting roads on or adjacent to such grant lands; $107,799,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 25 percent of the aggregate of all receipts during the current fiscal year from the revested Oregon and California Railroad grant lands is hereby made a charge against the Oregon and California land-grant fund and shall be transferred to the General Fund in the Treasury in accordance with the second paragraph of subsection (b) of title II of the Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 2605).
range improvements
For rehabilitation, protection, and acquisition of lands and interests therein, and improvement of Federal rangelands pursuant to section 401 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1751), notwithstanding any other Act, sums equal to 50 percent of all moneys received during the prior fiscal year under sections 3 and 15 of the Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315b, 315m) and the amount designated for range improvements from grazing fees and mineral leasing receipts from Bankhead-Jones lands transferred to the Department of the Interior pursuant to law, but not less than $10,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $600,000 shall be available for administrative expenses.
service charges, deposits, and forfeitures
For administrative expenses and other costs related to processing application documents and other authorizations for use and disposal of public lands and resources, for costs of providing copies of official public land documents, for monitoring construction, operation, and termination of facilities in conjunction with use authorizations, and for rehabilitation of damaged property, such amounts as may be collected under Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and under section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185), to remain available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of section 305(a) of Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1735(a)), any moneys that have been or will be received pursuant to that section, whether as a result of forfeiture, compromise, or settlement, if not appropriate for refund pursuant to section 305(c) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1735(c)), shall be available and may be expended under the authority of this Act by the Secretary of the Interior to improve, protect, or rehabilitate any public lands administered through the Bureau of Land Management which have been damaged by the action of a resource developer, purchaser, permittee, or any unauthorized person, without regard to whether all moneys collected from each such action are used on the exact lands damaged which led to the action: Provided further, That any such moneys that are in excess of amounts needed to repair damage to the exact land for which funds were collected may be used to repair other damaged public lands.
miscellaneous trust funds
In addition to amounts authorized to be expended under existing laws, there is hereby appropriated such amounts as may be contributed under section 307 of Public Law 94–579 (43 U.S.C. 1737), and such amounts as may be advanced for administrative costs, surveys, appraisals, and costs of making conveyances of omitted lands under section 211(b) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1721(b)), to remain available until expended.
administrative provisions
The Bureau of Land Management may carry out the operations funded under this Act by direct expenditure, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and reimbursable agreements with public and private entities, including with States. Appropriations for the Bureau shall be available for purchase, erection, and dismantlement of temporary structures, and alteration and maintenance of necessary buildings and appurtenant facilities to which the United States has title; up to $100,000 for payments, at the discretion of the Secretary, for information or evidence concerning violations of laws administered by the Bureau; miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement activities authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary’s certificate, not to exceed $10,000: Provided, That notwithstanding Public Law 90–620 (44 U.S.C. 501), the Bureau may, under cooperative cost-sharing and partnership arrangements authorized by law, procure printing services from cooperators in connection with jointly produced publications for which the cooperators share the cost of printing either in cash or in services, and the Bureau determines the cooperator is capable of meeting accepted quality standards: Provided further, That projects to be funded pursuant to a written commitment by a State government to provide an identified amount of money in support of the project may be carried out by the Bureau on a reimbursable basis.
United States Fish And Wildlife Service
resource management
For necessary expenses of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as authorized by law, and for scientific and economic studies, general administration, and for the performance of other authorized functions related to such resources, $1,385,096,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, of which not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses: Provided, That not to exceed $17,597,000 shall be used for implementing subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) (except for processing petitions, developing and issuing proposed and final regulations, and taking any other steps to implement actions described in subsection (c)(2)(A), (c)(2)(B)(i), or (c)(2)(B)(ii) of such section).
construction
For construction, improvement, acquisition, or removal of buildings and other facilities required in the conservation, management, investigation, protection, and utilization of fish and wildlife resources, and the acquisition of lands and interests therein; $8,114,000, to remain available until expended.
cooperative endangered species conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535), $23,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be derived from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
national wildlife refuge fund
For expenses necessary to implement the Act of October 17, 1978 (16 U.S.C. 715s), $13,228,000.
north american wetlands conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.), $49,000,000, to remain available until expended.
neotropical migratory bird conservation
For expenses necessary to carry out the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
multinational species conservation fund
For expenses necessary to carry out the African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.), the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.), the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), and the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.), $21,000,000, to remain available until expended.
state and tribal wildlife grants
For wildlife conservation grants to States and to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Indian Tribes under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished, $73,812,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the amount provided herein, $6,200,000 is for a competitive grant program for Indian Tribes not subject to the remaining provisions of this appropriation: Provided further, That $7,612,000 is for a competitive grant program to implement approved plans for States, territories, and other jurisdictions and at the discretion of affected States, the regional Associations of fish and wildlife agencies, not subject to the remaining provisions of this appropriation: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, after deducting $13,812,000 and administrative expenses, apportion the amount provided herein in the following manner: (1) to the District of Columbia and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, each a sum equal to not more than one-half of 1 percent thereof; and (2) to Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, each a sum equal to not more than one-fourth of 1 percent thereof: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior shall apportion the remaining amount in the following manner: (1) one-third of which is based on the ratio to which the land area of such State bears to the total land area of all such States; and (2) two-thirds of which is based on the ratio to which the population of such State bears to the total population of all such States: Provided further, That the amounts apportioned under this paragraph shall be adjusted equitably so that no State shall be apportioned a sum which is less than 1 percent of the amount available for apportionment under this paragraph for any fiscal year or more than 5 percent of such amount: Provided further, That the Federal share of planning grants shall not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such projects and the Federal share of implementation grants shall not exceed 65 percent of the total costs of such projects: Provided further, That the non-Federal share of such projects may not be derived from Federal grant programs: Provided further, That any amount apportioned in 2025 to any State, territory, or other jurisdiction that remains unobligated as of September 30, 2026, shall be reapportioned, together with funds appropriated in 2027, in the manner provided herein.
administrative provisions
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service may carry out the operations of Service programs by direct expenditure, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and reimbursable agreements with public and private entities. Appropriations and funds available to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be available for repair of damage to public roads within and adjacent to reservation areas caused by operations of the Service; options for the purchase of land at not to exceed one dollar for each option; facilities incident to such public recreational uses on conservation areas as are consistent with their primary purpose; and the maintenance and improvement of aquaria, buildings, and other facilities under the jurisdiction of the Service and to which the United States has title, and which are used pursuant to law in connection with management, and investigation of fish and wildlife resources: Provided, That notwithstanding 44 U.S.C. 501, the Service may, under cooperative cost sharing and partnership arrangements authorized by law, procure printing services from cooperators in connection with jointly produced publications for which the cooperators share at least one-half the cost of printing either in cash or services and the Service determines the cooperator is capable of meeting accepted quality standards: Provided further, That the Service may accept donated aircraft as replacements for existing aircraft: Provided further, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, all fees collected for non-toxic shot review and approval shall be deposited under the heading “United States Fish and Wildlife Service—Resource Management” and shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, to be used for expenses of processing of such non-toxic shot type or coating applications and revising regulations as necessary, and shall remain available until expended.
National Park Service
operation of the national park system
For expenses necessary for the management, operation, and maintenance of areas and facilities administered by the National Park Service and for the general administration of the National Park Service, $2,709,203,000, of which $11,661,000 for planning and interagency coordination in support of Everglades restoration and $15,000,000 for uses authorized by section 101122 of title 54, United States Code shall remain available until September 30, 2026, and not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representative expenses: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading in this Act are available for the purposes of section 5 of Public Law 95–348: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 9 of the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act (36 U.S.C. note prec. 101; Public Law 115–102), $3,300,000 of the funds provided under this heading shall be made available for the purposes specified by that Act: Provided further, That sections 7(b) and 8(a) of that Act is amended by striking “July 1, 2025” and inserting “July 1, 2026”.
In addition, for purposes described in section 2404 of Public Law 116–9, an amount equal to the amount deposited in this fiscal year into the National Park Medical Services Fund established pursuant to such section of such Act, to remain available until expended, shall be derived from such Fund.
national recreation and preservation
For expenses necessary to carry out recreation programs, natural programs, cultural programs, heritage partnership programs, environmental compliance and review, international park affairs, and grant administration, not otherwise provided for, $89,593,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
historic preservation fund
For expenses necessary in carrying out the National Historic Preservation Act (division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code), $168,900,000, to be derived from the Historic Preservation Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2026, of which $25,500,000 shall be for Save America's Treasures grants for preservation of nationally significant sites, structures and artifacts as authorized by section 7303 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (54 U.S.C. 3089): Provided, That an individual Save America's Treasures grant shall be matched by non-Federal funds: Provided further, That individual projects shall only be eligible for one grant: Provided further, That all projects to be funded shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That of the funds provided for the Historic Preservation Fund, $30,250,000 is for the Competitive Grants Subactivity; $11,000,000 is for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities; $10,000,000 is for competitive grants for the restoration of historic properties of national, State, and local significance listed on or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, to be made without imposing the usage or direct grant restrictions of section 101(e)(3) (54 U.S.C. 302904) of the National Historic Preservation Act; $7,000,000 is for a competitive grant program to honor the semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States by restoring and preserving sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation: Provided further, That such competitive grants shall be made without imposing the matching requirements in section 302902(b)(3) of title 54, United States Code to States and Indian Tribes as defined in chapter 3003 of such title, Native Hawaiian organizations, local governments, including Certified Local Governments, and nonprofit organizations.
construction
For construction, improvements, repair, or replacement of physical facilities, and related equipment, and compliance and planning for programs and areas administered by the National Park Service, $135,616,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any project initially funded in fiscal year 2025 with a future phase indicated in the National Park Service 5–Year Line Item Construction Plan, a single procurement may be issued which includes the full scope of the project: Provided further, That the solicitation and contract shall contain the clause availability of funds found at 48 CFR 52.232–18: Provided further, That National Park Service Donations, Park Concessions Franchise Fees, and Recreation Fees may be made available for the cost of adjustments and changes within the original scope of effort for projects funded by the National Park Service Construction appropriation: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations, in accordance with current reprogramming thresholds, prior to making any charges authorized under this heading.
centennial challenge
For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of section 101701 of title 54, United States Code, relating to challenge cost share agreements, $12,000,000, to remain available until expended, for Centennial Challenge projects and programs: Provided, That not less than 50 percent of the total cost of each project or program shall be derived from non-Federal sources in the form of donated cash, assets, or a pledge of donation guaranteed by an irrevocable letter of credit.
administrative provisions
(including transfer of funds)
In addition to other uses set forth in section 101917(c)(2) of title 54, United States Code, franchise fees credited to a sub-account shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary, without further appropriation, for use at any unit within the National Park System to extinguish or reduce liability for Possessory Interest or leasehold surrender interest. Such funds may only be used for this purpose to the extent that the benefitting unit anticipated franchise fee receipts over the term of the contract at that unit exceed the amount of funds used to extinguish or reduce liability. Franchise fees at the benefitting unit shall be credited to the sub-account of the originating unit over a period not to exceed the term of a single contract at the benefitting unit, in the amount of funds so expended to extinguish or reduce liability.
For the costs of administration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants authorized by section 105(a)(2)(B) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–432), the National Park Service may retain up to 3 percent of the amounts which are authorized to be disbursed under such section, such retained amounts to remain available until expended.
National Park Service funds may be transferred to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation, for purposes authorized under 23 U.S.C. 203. Transfers may include a reasonable amount for FHWA administrative support costs.
United States Geological Survey
surveys, investigations, and research
For expenses necessary for the United States Geological Survey to perform surveys, investigations, and research covering topography, geology, hydrology, biology, and the mineral and water resources of the United States, its territories and possessions, and other areas as authorized by 43 U.S.C. 31, 1332, and 1340; classify lands as to their mineral and water resources; give engineering supervision to power permittees and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensees; administer the minerals exploration program (30 U.S.C. 641); conduct inquiries into the economic conditions affecting mining and materials processing industries (30 U.S.C. 3, 21a, and 1603; 50 U.S.C. 98g(a)(1)) and related purposes as authorized by law; and to publish and disseminate data relative to the foregoing activities; $1,374,385,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026; of which $107,334,000 shall remain available until expended for satellite operations; and of which $54,130,000 shall be available until expended for deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects that exceed $100,000 in cost: Provided, That none of the funds provided for the ecosystem research activity shall be used to conduct new surveys on private property, unless specifically authorized in writing by the property owner: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used to pay more than one-half the cost of topographic mapping or water resources data collection and investigations carried on in cooperation with States and municipalities: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this heading, not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses.
administrative provisions
From within the amount appropriated for activities of the United States Geological Survey such sums as are necessary shall be available for contracting for the furnishing of topographic maps and for the making of geophysical or other specialized surveys when it is administratively determined that such procedures are in the public interest; construction and maintenance of necessary buildings and appurtenant facilities; acquisition of lands for gauging stations, observation wells, and seismic equipment; expenses of the United States National Committee for Geological Sciences; and payment of compensation and expenses of persons employed by the Survey duly appointed to represent the United States in the negotiation and administration of interstate compacts: Provided, That activities funded by appropriations herein made may be accomplished through the use of contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements (including noncompetitive cooperative agreements with Tribes) as defined in section 6302 of title 31, United States Code: Provided further, That the United States Geological Survey may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements directly with individuals or indirectly with institutions or nonprofit organizations, without regard to 41 U.S.C. 6101, for the temporary or intermittent services of students or recent graduates, who shall be considered employees for the purpose of chapters 57 and 81 of title 5, United States Code, relating to compensation for travel and work injuries, and chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims, but shall not be considered to be Federal employees for any other purposes.
Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management
ocean energy management
For expenses necessary for granting and administering leases, easements, rights-of-way, and agreements for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf and approving operations related thereto, as authorized by law; for environmental studies, as authorized by law; for implementing other laws and to the extent provided by Presidential or Secretarial delegation; and for matching grants or cooperative agreements, $199,057,000, of which $144,057,000 is to remain available until September 30, 2026, and of which $55,000,000 is to remain available until expended: Provided, That this total appropriation shall be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary of the Interior and credited to this appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including studies, assessments, analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a final fiscal year 2025 appropriation estimated at not more than $144,057,000: Provided further, That not to exceed $3,000 shall be available for reasonable expenses related to promoting volunteer beach and marine cleanup activities: Provided further, That not to exceed $5,000 shall be available for official reception and representation expenses.
Bureau Of Safety And Environmental Enforcement
offshore safety and environmental enforcement
For expenses necessary for the regulation of operations related to leases, easements, rights-of-way, and agreements for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf, as authorized by law; for enforcing and implementing laws and regulations as authorized by law and to the extent provided by Presidential or Secretarial delegation; and for matching grants or cooperative agreements, $168,330,000, of which $138,450,000, including not to exceed $3,000 for official reception and representation expenses, is to remain available until September 30, 2026, and of which $29,880,000 is to remain available until expended, including $2,880,000 for offshore decommissioning activities: Provided, That this total appropriation shall be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary of the Interior and credited to this appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including studies, assessments, analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a final fiscal year 2025 appropriation estimated at not more than $141,330,000.
For an additional amount, $37,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this appropriation, which shall be derived from non-refundable inspection fees collected in fiscal year 2025, as provided in this Act: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, not less than 50 percent of the inspection fees expended by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement will be used to fund personnel and mission-related costs to expand capacity and expedite the orderly development, subject to environmental safeguards, of the Outer Continental Shelf pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), including the review of applications for permits to drill.
oil spill research
For necessary expenses to carry out title I, section 1016; title IV, sections 4202 and 4303; title VII; and title VIII, section 8201 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, $15,099,000, which shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to remain available until expended.
Office Of Surface Mining Reclamation And Enforcement
regulation and technology
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95–87, $119,786,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, of which $66,000,000 shall be available for State and Tribal regulatory grants, and of which not to exceed $5,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses: Provided, That appropriations for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement may provide for the travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal personnel attending Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training.
In addition, for costs to review, administer, and enforce permits issued by the Office pursuant to section 507 of Public Law 95–87 (30 U.S.C. 1257), $40,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That fees assessed and collected by the Office pursuant to such section 507 shall be credited to this account as discretionary offsetting collections, to remain available until expended: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated from the general fund shall be reduced as collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a fiscal year 2025 appropriation estimated at not more than $119,786,000.
abandoned mine reclamation fund
For necessary expenses to carry out title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95–87, $33,231,000, to be derived from receipts of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That pursuant to Public Law 97–365, the Department of the Interior is authorized to use up to 20 percent from the recovery of the delinquent debt owed to the United States Government to pay for contracts to collect these debts: Provided further, That funds made available under title IV of Public Law 95–87 may be used for any required non-Federal share of the cost of projects funded by the Federal Government for the purpose of environmental restoration related to treatment or abatement of acid mine drainage from abandoned mines: Provided further, That such projects must be consistent with the purposes and priorities of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: Provided further, That amounts provided under this heading may be used for the travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal personnel attending Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training: Provided further, That of the amounts provided under this heading, not to exceed $5,000 shall be available for official reception and representation expenses.
In addition, $135,000,000, to remain available until expended, for payments to States and federally recognized Indian Tribes for reclamation of abandoned mine lands and other related activities in accordance with the terms and conditions described in the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That such additional amount shall be used for economic and community development in conjunction with the priorities described in section 403(a) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1233(a)): Provided further, That of such additional amount, $88,850,000 shall be distributed in equal amounts to the three Appalachian States with the greatest amount of unfunded needs to meet the priorities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such section, $34,400,000 shall be distributed in equal amounts to the three Appalachian States with the subsequent greatest amount of unfunded needs to meet such priorities, and $11,750,000 shall be for grants to federally recognized Indian Tribes, without regard to their status as certified or uncertified under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1233(a)), for reclamation of abandoned mine lands and other related activities in accordance with the terms and conditions described in the report accompanying this Act and shall be used for economic and community development in conjunction with the priorities in section 403(a) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977: Provided further, That such payments shall be made to States and federally recognized Indian Tribes not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act: Provided further, That if payments have not been made by the date specified in the preceding proviso, the amount appropriated for salaries and expenses under the heading “Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement” shall be reduced by $100,000 per day until such payments have been made.
Indian Affairs
Bureau Of Indian Affairs
operation of indian programs
(including transfers of funds)
For expenses necessary for the operation of Indian programs, as authorized by law, including the Snyder Act of November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13) and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), $2,189,150,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, except as otherwise provided herein; of which not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses; of which not to exceed $79,494,000 shall be for welfare assistance payments: Provided, That in cases of designated Federal disasters, the Secretary of the Interior may exceed such cap for welfare payments from the amounts provided herein, to provide for disaster relief to Indian communities affected by the disaster: Provided further, That federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations of federally recognized Indian Tribes may use their Tribal priority allocations for unmet welfare assistance costs: Provided further, That not to exceed $75,987,000 shall remain available until expended for housing improvement, road maintenance, land acquisition, attorney fees, litigation support, land records improvement, hearings and appeals, and the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Program: Provided further, That any forestry funds allocated to a federally recognized Tribe which remain unobligated as of September 30, 2026, may be transferred during fiscal year 2027 to an Indian forest land assistance account established for the benefit of the holder of the funds within the holder’s trust fund account: Provided further, That any such unobligated balances not so transferred shall expire on September 30, 2027: Provided further, That in order to enhance the safety of Bureau field employees, the Bureau may use funds to purchase uniforms or other identifying articles of clothing for personnel: Provided further, That not to exceed $7,664,000 of funds made available under this heading may, as needed, be transferred to “Office of the Secretary—Departmental Operations” for trust, probate, and administrative functions: Provided further, That the Bureau of Indian Affairs may accept transfers of funds from United States Customs and Border Protection to supplement any other funding available for reconstruction or repair of roads owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as identified on the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory, 23 U.S.C. 202(b)(1).
contract support costs
For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for contract support costs associated with Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education for fiscal year 2025, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be available for obligation through September 30, 2026: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts made available under this heading shall be available for transfer to another budget account.
payments for tribal leases
For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for leases pursuant to section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)) for fiscal year 2025, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be available for obligation through September 30, 2026: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts made available under this heading shall be available for transfer to another budget account.
construction
(including transfer of funds)
For construction, repair, improvement, and maintenance of irrigation and power systems, buildings, utilities, and other facilities, including architectural and engineering services by contract; acquisition of lands, and interests in lands; and preparation of lands for farming, and for construction of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project pursuant to Public Law 87–483; $146,296,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amounts as may be available for the construction of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project may be transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation: Provided further, That any funds provided for the Safety of Dams program pursuant to the Act of November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13), shall be made available on a nonreimbursable basis: Provided further, That this appropriation may be reimbursed from the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration appropriation for the appropriate share of construction costs for space expansion needed in agency offices to meet trust reform implementation: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $10,000,000 shall be derived from the Indian Irrigation Fund established by section 3211 of the WIIN Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1749): Provided further, That amounts provided under this heading are made available for the modernization of Federal field communication capabilities, in addition to amounts otherwise made available for such purpose.
indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to indians
For payments and necessary administrative expenses for implementation of Indian land and water claim settlements pursuant to Public Laws 99–264, 101–618, and 117–349, and for implementation of other land and water rights settlements, $32,263,000, to remain available until expended.
indian guaranteed loan program account
For the cost of guaranteed loans and insured loans, $20,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, of which $2,125,000 is for administrative expenses, as authorized by the Indian Financing Act of 1974: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed or insured, not to exceed $399,114,126.
Bureau Of Indian Education
operation of indian education programs
For expenses necessary for the operation of Indian education programs, as authorized by law, including the Snyder Act of November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13), the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2001–2019), and the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), $1,198,216,000 to remain available until September 30, 2026, except as otherwise provided herein: Provided, That federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations of federally recognized Indian Tribes may use their Tribal priority allocations for unmet welfare assistance costs: Provided further, That not to exceed $871,983,000 for school operations costs of Bureau-funded schools and other education programs shall become available on June 1, 2025, and shall remain available until September 30, 2026: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, including but not limited to the Indian Self–Determination Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) and section 1128 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2008), not to exceed $96,886,000 within and only from such amounts made available for school operations shall be available for administrative cost grants associated with grants approved prior to June 1, 2025: Provided further, That in order to enhance the safety of Bureau field employees, the Bureau may use funds to purchase uniforms or other identifying articles of clothing for personnel.
education construction
For construction, repair, improvement, and maintenance of buildings, utilities, and other facilities necessary for the operation of Indian education programs, including architectural and engineering services by contract; acquisition of lands, and interests in lands; $270,867,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That in order to ensure timely completion of construction projects, the Secretary of the Interior may assume control of a project and all funds related to the project, if, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, any Public Law 100–297 (25 U.S.C. 2501, et seq.) grantee receiving funds appropriated in this Act or in any prior Act, has not completed the planning and design phase of the project and commenced construction.
administrative provisions
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education may carry out the operation of Indian programs by direct expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, and grants, either directly or in cooperation with States and other organizations.
Notwithstanding Public Law 87–279 (25 U.S.C. 15), the Bureau of Indian Affairs may contract for services in support of the management, operation, and maintenance of the Power Division of the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds available to the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Bureau of Indian Education for central office oversight and Executive Direction and Administrative Services (except Executive Direction and Administrative Services funding for Tribal Priority Allocations, regional offices, and facilities operations and maintenance) shall be available for contracts, grants, compacts, or cooperative agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Bureau of Indian Education under the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act or the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–413).
In the event any Tribe returns appropriations made available by this Act to the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Bureau of Indian Education, this action shall not diminish the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to that Tribe, or the government-to-government relationship between the United States and that Tribe, or that Tribe’s ability to access future appropriations.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds available to the Bureau of Indian Education, other than the amounts provided herein for assistance to public schools under 25 U.S.C. 452 et seq., shall be available to support the operation of any elementary or secondary school in the State of Alaska.
No funds available to the Bureau of Indian Education shall be used to support expanded grades for any school or dormitory beyond the grade structure in place or approved by the Secretary of the Interior at each school in the Bureau of Indian Education school system as of October 1, 1995, except that the Secretary of the Interior may waive this prohibition to support expansion of up to one additional grade when the Secretary determines such waiver is needed to support accomplishment of the mission of the Bureau of Indian Education, or more than one grade to expand the elementary grade structure for Bureau-funded schools with a K–2 grade structure on October 1, 1996. Appropriations made available in this or any prior Act for schools funded by the Bureau shall be available, in accordance with the Bureau’s funding formula, only to the schools in the Bureau school system as of September 1, 1996, and to any school or school program that was reinstated in fiscal year 2012. Funds made available under this Act may not be used to establish a charter school at a Bureau-funded school (as that term is defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021)), except that a charter school that is in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act and that has operated at a Bureau-funded school before September 1, 1999, may continue to operate during that period, but only if the charter school pays to the Bureau a pro rata share of funds to reimburse the Bureau for the use of the real and personal property (including buses and vans), the funds of the charter school are kept separate and apart from Bureau funds, and the Bureau does not assume any obligation for charter school programs of the State in which the school is located if the charter school loses such funding. Employees of Bureau-funded schools sharing a campus with a charter school and performing functions related to the charter school’s operation and employees of a charter school shall not be treated as Federal employees for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 113 of title I of appendix C of Public Law 106–113, if in fiscal year 2003 or 2004 a grantee received indirect and administrative costs pursuant to a distribution formula based on section 5(f) of Public Law 101–301, the Secretary shall continue to distribute indirect and administrative cost funds to such grantee using the section 5(f) distribution formula.
Funds available under this Act may not be used to establish satellite locations of schools in the Bureau school system as of September 1, 1996, except that the Secretary may waive this prohibition in order for an Indian Tribe to provide language and cultural immersion educational programs for non-public schools located within the jurisdictional area of the Tribal government which exclusively serve Tribal members, do not include grades beyond those currently served at the existing Bureau-funded school, provide an educational environment with educator presence and academic facilities comparable to the Bureau-funded school, comply with all applicable Tribal, Federal, or State health and safety standards, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and demonstrate the benefits of establishing operations at a satellite location in lieu of incurring extraordinary costs, such as for transportation or other impacts to students such as those caused by busing students extended distances: Provided, That no funds available under this Act may be used to fund operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, or other facilities-related costs for such assets that are not owned by the Bureau: Provided further, That the term “satellite school” means a school location physically separated from the existing Bureau school by more than 50 miles but that forms part of the existing school in all other respects.
Funds made available for Tribal Priority Allocations within Operation of Indian Programs and Operation of Indian Education Programs may be used to execute requested adjustments in Tribal priority allocations initiated by an Indian Tribe.
Bureau Of Trust Funds Administration
federal trust programs
(including transfer of funds)
For the operation of trust programs for Indians by direct expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, and grants, $105,277,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $17,997,000 from this or any other Act, may be available for settlement support: Provided, That funds for trust management improvements and litigation support may, as needed, be transferred to or merged with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, “Operation of Indian Programs” and Bureau of Indian Education, “Operation of Indian Education Programs” accounts; the Office of the Solicitor, “Salaries and Expenses” account; and the Office of the Secretary, “Departmental Operations” account: Provided further, That funds made available through contracts or grants obligated during fiscal year 2025, as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), shall remain available until expended by the contractor or grantee: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to provide a quarterly statement of performance for any Indian trust account that has not had activity for at least 15 months and has a balance of $15 or less: Provided further, That the Secretary shall issue an annual account statement and maintain a record of any such accounts and shall permit the balance in each such account to be withdrawn upon the express written request of the account holder: Provided further, That not to exceed $100,000 is available for the Secretary to make payments to correct administrative errors of either disbursements from or deposits to Individual Indian Money or Tribal accounts after September 30, 2002: Provided further, That erroneous payments that are recovered shall be credited to and remain available in this account for this purpose: Provided further, That the Secretary shall not be required to reconcile Special Deposit Accounts with a balance of less than $500 unless the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration receives proof of ownership from a Special Deposit Accounts claimant: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 102 of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–412) or any other provision of law, the Secretary may aggregate the trust accounts of individuals whose whereabouts are unknown for a continuous period of at least 5 years and shall not be required to generate periodic statements of performance for the individual accounts: Provided further, That with respect to the preceding proviso, the Secretary shall continue to maintain sufficient records to determine the balance of the individual accounts, including any accrued interest and income, and such funds shall remain available to the individual account holders.
Departmental Offices
Office Of The Secretary
departmental operations
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses for management of the Department of the Interior and for grants and cooperative agreements, as authorized by law, $102,292,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026; of which not to exceed $15,000 may be for official reception and representation expenses; of which up to $1,000,000 shall be available for workers compensation payments and unemployment compensation payments associated with the orderly closure of the United States Bureau of Mines; and of which $14,295,000 for Indian land, mineral, and resource valuation activities shall remain available until expended: Provided, That funds for Indian land, mineral, and resource valuation activities may, as needed, be transferred to and merged with the Bureau of Indian Affairs “Operation of Indian Programs” and Bureau of Indian Education “Operation of Indian Education Programs” accounts and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration “Federal Trust Programs” account: Provided further, That funds made available through contracts or grants obligated during fiscal year 2025, as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), shall remain available until expended by the contractor or grantee.
administrative provisions
For fiscal year 2025, up to $550,000 of the payments authorized by chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code, may be retained for administrative expenses of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program: Provided, That the amounts provided under this Act specifically for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program are the only amounts available for payments authorized under chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code: Provided further, That in the event the sums appropriated for any fiscal year for payments pursuant to this chapter are insufficient to make the full payments authorized by that chapter to all units of local government, then the payment to each local government shall be made proportionally: Provided further, That the Secretary may make adjustments to payment to individual units of local government to correct for prior overpayments or underpayments: Provided further, That no payment shall be made pursuant to that chapter to otherwise eligible units of local government if the computed amount of the payment is less than $100.
Insular Affairs
assistance to territories
For expenses necessary for assistance to territories under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, $118,689,000, of which: (1) $107,220,000 shall remain available until expended for territorial assistance, including general technical assistance, maintenance assistance, disaster assistance, coral reef initiative and natural resources activities, and brown tree snake control and research; grants to the judiciary in American Samoa for compensation and expenses, as authorized by law (48 U.S.C. 1661(c)); grants to the Government of American Samoa, in addition to current local revenues, for construction and support of governmental functions; grants to the Government of the Virgin Islands, as authorized by law; grants to the Government of Guam, as authorized by law; and grants to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands, as authorized by law (Public Law 94–241; 90 Stat. 272); and (2) $11,469,000 shall be available until September 30, 2026, for salaries and expenses of the Office of Insular Affairs: Provided, That all financial transactions of the territorial and local governments herein provided for, including such transactions of all agencies or instrumentalities established or used by such governments, may be audited by the Government Accountability Office, at its discretion, in accordance with chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code: Provided further, That Northern Mariana Islands Covenant grant funding shall be provided according to those terms of the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future United States Financial Assistance for the Northern Mariana Islands approved by Public Law 104–134: Provided further, That the funds for the program of operations and maintenance improvement are appropriated to institutionalize routine operations and maintenance improvement of capital infrastructure with territorial participation and cost sharing to be determined by the Secretary based on the grantee’s commitment to timely maintenance of its capital assets: Provided further, That any appropriation for disaster assistance under this heading in this Act or previous appropriations Acts may be used as non–Federal matching funds for the purpose of hazard mitigation grants provided pursuant to section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c).
compact of free association
For grants and necessary expenses, $813,000, to remain available until expended, to support Federal services and programs provided to the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Administrative Provisions
(including transfer of funds)
At the request of the Governor of Guam, the Secretary may transfer discretionary funds or mandatory funds provided under section 104(e) of Public Law 108–188 and Public Law 104–134, that are allocated for Guam, to the Secretary of Agriculture for the subsidy cost of direct or guaranteed loans, plus not to exceed three percent of the amount of the subsidy transferred for the cost of loan administration, for the purposes authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act for construction and repair projects in Guam, and such funds shall remain available until expended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That such loans or loan guarantees may be made without regard to the population of the area, credit elsewhere requirements, and restrictions on the types of eligible entities under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act: Provided further, That any funds transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be in addition to funds otherwise made available to make or guarantee loans under such authorities.
Office Of The Solicitor
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Solicitor, $93,964,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
Office Of Inspector General
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, $68,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
Department-wide Programs
wildland fire management
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses for fire preparedness, fire suppression operations, fire science and research, emergency rehabilitation, fuels management activities, and rural fire assistance by the Department of the Interior, $1,195,086,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $14,000,000 shall be for the renovation or construction of fire facilities: Provided, That such funds are also available for repayment of advances to other appropriation accounts from which funds were previously transferred for such purposes: Provided further, That of the funds provided $255,000,000 is for fuels management activities: Provided further, That of the funds provided $10,000,000 is for burned area rehabilitation: Provided further, That persons hired pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1469 may be furnished subsistence and lodging without cost from funds available from this appropriation: Provided further, That notwithstanding 42 U.S.C. 1856d, sums received by a bureau or office of the Department of the Interior for fire protection rendered pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1856 et seq., protection of United States property, may be credited to the appropriation from which funds were expended to provide that protection, and are available without fiscal year limitation: Provided further, That using the amounts designated under this title of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for fuels management activities, and for training and monitoring associated with such fuels management activities on Federal land, or on adjacent non-Federal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That notwithstanding requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, the Secretary, for purposes of fuels management activities, may obtain maximum practicable competition among: (1) local private, nonprofit, or cooperative entities; (2) Youth Conservation Corps crews, Public Lands Corps (Public Law 109–154), or related partnerships with State, local, or nonprofit youth groups; (3) small or micro-businesses; or (4) other entities that will hire or train locally a significant percentage, defined as 50 percent or more, of the project workforce to complete such contracts: Provided further, That in implementing this section, the Secretary shall develop written guidance to field units to ensure accountability and consistent application of the authorities provided herein: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this heading may be used to reimburse the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for the costs of carrying out their responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to consult and conference, as required by section 7 of such Act, in connection with wildland fire management activities: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior may use wildland fire appropriations to enter into leases of real property with local governments, at or below fair market value, to construct capitalized improvements for fire facilities on such leased properties, including but not limited to fire guard stations, retardant stations, and other initial attack and fire support facilities, and to make advance payments for any such lease or for construction activity associated with the lease: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may authorize the transfer of funds appropriated for wildland fire management, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 between the Departments when such transfers would facilitate and expedite wildland fire management programs and projects: Provided further, That funds provided for wildfire suppression shall be available for support of Federal emergency response actions: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this heading shall be available for assistance to or through the Department of State in connection with forest and rangeland research, technical information, and assistance in foreign countries, and, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall be available to support forestry, wildland fire management, and related natural resource activities outside the United States and its territories and possessions, including technical assistance, education and training, and cooperation with United States and international organizations: Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, $383,657,000 shall be available for wildfire suppression operations, and is provided to meet the terms of section 251(b)(2)(F)(ii)(I) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
wildfire suppression operations reserve fund
(including transfers of funds)
In addition to the amounts provided under the heading “Department of the Interior—Department-Wide Programs—Wildland Fire Management” for wildfire suppression operations, $360,000,000, to remain available until transferred, is additional new budget authority as specified for purposes of section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided, That such amounts may be transferred to and merged with amounts made available under the headings “Department of Agriculture—Forest Service—Wildland Fire Management” and “Department of the Interior—Department-Wide Programs—Wildland Fire Management” for wildfire suppression operations in the fiscal year in which such amounts are transferred: Provided further, That amounts may be transferred to the “Wildland Fire Management” accounts in the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior only upon the notification of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that all wildfire suppression operations funds appropriated under that heading in this and prior appropriations Acts to the agency to which the funds will be transferred will be obligated within 30 days: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided under this heading is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That in determining whether all wildfire suppression operations funds appropriated under the heading “Wildland Fire Management” in this and prior appropriations Acts to either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior will be obligated within 30 days pursuant to the preceding proviso, any funds transferred or permitted to be transferred pursuant to any other transfer authority provided by law shall be excluded.
central hazardous materials fund
For necessary expenses of the Department of the Interior and any of its component offices and bureaus for the response action, including associated activities, performed pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), $9,200,000, to remain available until expended.
energy community revitalization program
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Department of the Interior to inventory, assess, decommission, reclaim, respond to hazardous substance releases, remediate lands pursuant to section 40704 of Public Law 117–58 (30 U.S.C. 1245), and carry out the purposes of section 349 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907), as amended, $5,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amount shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes: Provided further, That amounts appropriated under this heading are available for program management and oversight of these activities: Provided further, That the Secretary may transfer the funds provided under this heading in this Act to any other account in the Department to carry out such purposes, and may expend such funds directly, or through grants: Provided further, That these amounts are not available to fulfill Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) obligations agreed to in settlement or imposed by a court, whether for payment of funds or for work to be performed.
natural resource damage assessment and restoration
natural resource damage assessment fund
To conduct natural resource damage assessment, restoration activities, and onshore oil spill preparedness by the Department of the Interior necessary to carry out the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), and 54 U.S.C. 100721 et seq., $7,715,000, to remain available until expended.
working capital fund
For the operation and maintenance of a departmental financial and business management system, data management, information technology improvements of general benefit to the Department, cybersecurity, and the consolidation of facilities and operations throughout the Department, $99,453,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated in this Act or any other Act may be used to establish reserves in the Working Capital Fund account other than for accrued annual leave and depreciation of equipment without prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior may assess reasonable charges to State, local, and Tribal government employees for training services provided by the National Indian Program Training Center, other than training related to Public Law 93–638: Provided further, That the Secretary may lease or otherwise provide space and related facilities, equipment, or professional services of the National Indian Program Training Center to State, local and Tribal government employees or persons or organizations engaged in cultural, educational, or recreational activities (as defined in section 3306(a) of title 40, United States Code) at the prevailing rate for similar space, facilities, equipment, or services in the vicinity of the National Indian Program Training Center: Provided further, That all funds received pursuant to the two preceding provisos shall be credited to this account, shall be available until expended, and shall be used by the Secretary for necessary expenses of the National Indian Program Training Center: Provided further, That the Secretary may enter into grants and cooperative agreements to support the Office of Natural Resource Revenue’s collection and disbursement of royalties, fees, and other mineral revenue proceeds, as authorized by law.
administrative provision
There is hereby authorized for acquisition from available resources within the Working Capital Fund, aircraft which may be obtained by donation, purchase, or through available excess surplus property: Provided, That existing aircraft being replaced may be sold, with proceeds derived or trade-in value used to offset the purchase price for the replacement aircraft.
office of natural resources revenue
For necessary expenses for management of the collection and disbursement of royalties, fees, and other mineral revenue proceeds, and for grants and cooperative agreements, as authorized by law, $160,446,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026; of which $59,751,000 shall remain available until expended for the purpose of mineral revenue management activities: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, $50,000 shall be available for refunds of overpayments in connection with certain Indian leases in which the Secretary of the Interior concurred with the claimed refund due, to pay amounts owed to Indian allottees or Tribes, or to correct prior unrecoverable erroneous payments.
General Provisions, Department Of The Interior
(including transfers of funds)
emergency transfer authority—intra-bureau
Sec. 101. Appropriations made in this title shall be available for expenditure or transfer (within each bureau or office), with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, for the emergency reconstruction, replacement, or repair of aircraft, buildings, utilities, or other facilities or equipment damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, storm, or other unavoidable causes: Provided, That no funds shall be made available under this authority until funds specifically made available to the Department of the Interior for emergencies shall have been exhausted: Provided further, That all funds used pursuant to this section must be replenished by a supplemental appropriation, which must be requested as promptly as possible.
emergency transfer authority—department-wide
Sec. 102. The Secretary of the Interior may authorize the expenditure or transfer of any no year appropriation in this title, in addition to the amounts included in the budget programs of the several agencies, for the suppression or emergency prevention of wildland fires on or threatening lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior; for the emergency rehabilitation of burned-over lands under its jurisdiction; for emergency actions related to potential or actual earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, storms, or other unavoidable causes; for contingency planning subsequent to actual oil spills; for response and natural resource damage assessment activities related to actual oil spills or releases of hazardous substances into the environment; for the prevention, suppression, and control of actual or potential grasshopper and Mormon cricket outbreaks on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, pursuant to the authority in section 417(b) of Public Law 106–224 (7 U.S.C. 7717(b)); for emergency reclamation projects under section 410 of Public Law 95–87; and shall transfer, from any no year funds available to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, such funds as may be necessary to permit assumption of regulatory authority in the event a primacy State is not carrying out the regulatory provisions of the Surface Mining Act: Provided, That appropriations made in this title for wildland fire operations shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred during the preceding fiscal year, and for reimbursement to other Federal agencies for destruction of vehicles, aircraft, or other equipment in connection with their use for wildland fire operations, with such reimbursement to be credited to appropriations currently available at the time of receipt thereof: Provided further, That for wildland fire operations, no funds shall be made available under this authority until the Secretary determines that funds appropriated for “wildland fire suppression” shall be exhausted within 30 days: Provided further, That all funds used pursuant to this section must be replenished by a supplemental appropriation, which must be requested as promptly as possible: Provided further, That such replenishment funds shall be used to reimburse, on a pro rata basis, accounts from which emergency funds were transferred.
authorized use of funds
Sec. 103. Appropriations made to the Department of the Interior in this title shall be available for services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, when authorized by the Secretary of the Interior, in total amount not to exceed $500,000; purchase and replacement of motor vehicles, including specially equipped law enforcement vehicles; hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; hire of passenger motor vehicles; purchase of reprints; payment for telephone service in private residences in the field, when authorized under regulations approved by the Secretary; and the payment of dues, when authorized by the Secretary, for library membership in societies or associations which issue publications to members only or at a price to members lower than to subscribers who are not members.
authorized use of funds, indian trust management
Sec. 104. Appropriations made in this Act under the headings Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, and Bureau of Trust Funds Administration and any unobligated balances from prior appropriations Acts made under the same headings shall be available for expenditure or transfer for Indian trust management and reform activities. Total funding for settlement support activities shall not exceed amounts specifically designated in this Act for such purpose. The Secretary shall notify the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of the expenditure or transfer of any funds under this section, including the amount expended or transferred and how the funds will be used.
redistribution of funds, bureau of indian affairs
Sec. 105. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to redistribute any Tribal Priority Allocation funds, including Tribal base funds, to alleviate Tribal funding inequities by transferring funds to address identified, unmet needs, dual enrollment, overlapping service areas or inaccurate distribution methodologies. No Tribe shall receive a reduction in Tribal Priority Allocation funds of more than 10 percent in fiscal year 2025. Under circumstances of dual enrollment, overlapping service areas or inaccurate distribution methodologies, the 10 percent limitation does not apply.
outer continental shelf inspection fees
Sec. 106. (a) In fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior shall collect a nonrefundable inspection fee, which shall be deposited in the “Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement” account, from the designated operator for facilities subject to inspection under 43 U.S.C. 1348(c).
(b) Annual fees shall be collected for facilities that are above the waterline, excluding drilling rigs, and are in place at the start of the fiscal year. Fees for fiscal year 2025 shall be—
(1) $10,500 for facilities with no wells, but with processing equipment or gathering lines;
(2) $17,000 for facilities with 1 to 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive wells; and
(3) $31,500 for facilities with more than 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive wells.
(c) Fees for drilling rigs shall be assessed for all inspections completed in fiscal year 2025. Fees for fiscal year 2025 shall be—
(1) $30,500 per inspection for rigs operating in water depths of 500 feet or more; and
(2) $16,700 per inspection for rigs operating in water depths of less than 500 feet.
(d) Fees for inspection of well operations conducted via non-rig units as outlined in title 30 CFR 250 subparts D, E, F, and Q shall be assessed for all inspections completed in fiscal year 2025. Fees for fiscal year 2025 shall be—
(1) $13,260 per inspection for non-rig units operating in water depths of 2,500 feet or more;
(2) $11,530 per inspection for non-rig units operating in water depths between 500 and 2,499 feet; and
(3) $4,470 per inspection for non-rig units operating in water depths of less than 500 feet.
(e) The Secretary shall bill designated operators under subsection (b) quarterly, with payment required within 30 days of billing. The Secretary shall bill designated operators under subsection (c) within 30 days of the end of the month in which the inspection occurred, with payment required within 30 days of billing. The Secretary shall bill designated operators under subsection (d) with payment required by the end of the following quarter.
contracts and agreements for wild horse and burro holding facilities
Sec. 107. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations and other appropriate entities, and may enter into multiyear contracts in accordance with the provisions of section 3903 of title 41, United States Code (except that the 5-year term restriction in subsection (a) shall not apply), for the long-term care and maintenance of excess wild free roaming horses and burros by such organizations or entities on private land. Such cooperative agreements and contracts may not exceed 10 years, subject to renewal at the discretion of the Secretary.
mass marking of salmonids
Sec. 108. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall, in carrying out its responsibilities to protect threatened and endangered species of salmon, implement a system of mass marking of salmonid stocks, intended for harvest, that are released from federally operated or federally financed hatcheries including but not limited to fish releases of coho, chinook, and steelhead species. Marked fish must have a visible mark that can be readily identified by commercial and recreational fishers.
contracts and agreements with indian affairs
Sec. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during fiscal year 2025, in carrying out work involving cooperation with State, local, and Tribal governments or any political subdivision thereof, Indian Affairs may record obligations against accounts receivable from any such entities, except that total obligations at the end of the fiscal year shall not exceed total budgetary resources available at the end of the fiscal year.
department of the interior experienced services program
Sec. 110. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to Federal grants and cooperative agreements, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, private nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 to utilize the talents of older Americans in programs authorized by other provisions of law administered by the Secretary and consistent with such provisions of law.
(b) Prior to awarding any grant or agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the agreement would not—
(1) result in the displacement of individuals currently employed by the Department, including partial displacement through reduction of non-overtime hours, wages, or employment benefits;
(2) result in the use of an individual under the Department of the Interior Experienced Services Program for a job or function in a case in which a Federal employee is in a layoff status from the same or substantially equivalent job within the Department; or
(3) affect existing contracts for services.
obligation of funds
Sec. 111. Amounts appropriated by this Act to the Department of the Interior shall be available for obligation and expenditure not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
separation of accounts
Sec. 112. The Secretary of the Interior, in order to implement an orderly transition to separate accounts of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education, may transfer funds among and between the successor offices and bureaus affected by the reorganization only in conformance with the reprogramming guidelines described in this Act.
payments in lieu of taxes (pilt)
Sec. 113. Section 6906 of title 31, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting “fiscal year 2025” for “fiscal year 2019”.
interagency motor pool
Sec. 114. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Federal regulation, federally recognized Indian Tribes or authorized Tribal organizations that receive Tribally Controlled School Grants pursuant to Public Law 100–297 may obtain interagency motor vehicles and related services for performance of any activities carried out under such grants to the same extent as if they were contracting under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
appraiser pay authority
Sec. 115. For fiscal year 2025, funds made available in this or any other Act or otherwise made available to the Department of the Interior for the Appraisal and Valuation Services Office may be used by the Secretary of the Interior to establish higher minimum rates of basic pay for employees of the Department of the Interior in the Appraiser (GS–1171) job series at grades 11 through 15 carrying out appraisals of real property and appraisal reviews conducted in support of the Department’s realty programs at rates no greater than 15 percent above the minimum rates of basic pay normally scheduled, and such higher rates shall be consistent with subsections (e) through (h) of section 5305 of title 5, United States Code.
sage-grouse
Sec. 116. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533)—
(1) to write or issue a proposed or final rule with regard to the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) or any distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse; or
(2) to implement, administer, or enforce any threatened species or endangered species status of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) or any distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse.
sage-grouse habitat
Sec. 117. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment or Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning referenced in the Notice titled “Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning” (89 Fed. Reg. 18963 (March 15, 2024)).
state conservation grants
Sec. 118. For expenses necessary to carry out section 200305 of title 54, United States Code, the National Park Service may retain up to 7 percent of the State Conservation Grants program to provide to States, the District of Columbia, and insular areas, as matching grants to support state program administrative costs.
historic preservation fund deposits
Sec. 119. Section 303102 of title 54, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting ‘‘fiscal year 2025’’ for “fiscal year 2023”.
interior authority for operating efficiencies
Sec. 120. (a) In fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the Secretary of the Interior may authorize and execute agreements to achieve operating efficiencies among and between two or more component bureaus and offices through the following activities:
(1) co-locating in facilities leased or owned by any such component bureau or office and sharing related utilities and equipment;
(2) detailing or assigning staff on a non-reimbursable basis for up to 5 business days; and
(3) sharing staff and equipment necessary to meet mission requirements.
(b) The authority provided by subsection (a) shall be to support areas of mission alignment between and among component bureaus and offices or where geographic proximity allows for efficiencies.
(c) Bureaus and offices entering into agreements authorized under subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3) shall bear costs for such agreements in a manner that reflects their approximate benefit and share of total costs, which may or may not include indirect costs.
(d) In furtherance of the requirement in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior may make transfers of funds in advance or on a reimbursable basis.
emergency law enforcement ceiling
Sec. 121. Section 103101 of title 54, United States Code, is amended in subsection (c)(1) by striking “$250,000” and inserting “$500,000”.
contribution authority extension
Sec. 122. Section 113 of division G of Public Law 113–76, as amended by Public Law 116–6, is further amended by striking “2024” and inserting “2029”.
period of availability
Sec. 123. Funds previously made available in the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 (Div. B of Public Law 115–123) for the “National Park Service – Historic Preservation Fund” that were available for obligation through fiscal year 2019 are to remain available through fiscal year 2026 for the liquidation of valid obligations incurred during fiscal years 2018 and 2019: Provided, That amounts repurposed pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
onshore wind project
Sec. 124. The final environmental impact statement for the Lava Ridge Wind Project described in the notice of availability issued by the Bureau of Land Management and titled “Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka Counties, ID” (89 Fed. Reg. 48681 (June 7, 2024)) shall have no force or effect.
lead ammunition and tackle
Sec. 125. (a) None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to prohibit the use of lead ammunition or tackle on Federal land or water that is made available for hunting or fishing activities or to issue regulations relating to the level of lead in ammunition or tackle to be used on Federal land or water, unless—
(1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that a decline in wildlife population on the specific unit of Federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on field data from the specific unit of Federal land or water; and
(2) the prohibition or regulation, as applicable, is—
(i) the law of the State in which the specific unit of Federal land or water is located; or
(ii) an applicable policy of the fish and wildlife department of the State in which the specific unit of Federal land or water is located; or
(B) approved by the fish and wildlife department of the State in which the specific unit of Federal land or water is located.
(b) In any case in which the Secretary of the Interior determines under subsection (a) that there is a wildlife population decline on a specific unit of Federal land or water that warrants a prohibition on or regulation relating to the level of lead in ammunition or tackle, the Secretary shall include in a Federal Register notice an explanation of how the prohibition or regulation, as applicable, meets the requirements of this section.
ecogrief
Sec. 126. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out the program for Federal employees at the Department of the Interior titled “Acknowledging Ecogrief and Developing Resistance” or any counseling sessions, workshop, or any other meeting pertaining to ecological grief, ecogrief, or eco-resilience.
lesser prairie-chicken
Sec. 127. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Threatened Status With Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern Distinct Population Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Distinct Population Segment” (87 Fed. Reg. 72674 (November 25, 2022)).
northern long-eared bat
Sec. 128. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat” (87 Fed. Reg. 73488 (November 30, 2022)).
dunes sagebrush lizard
Sec. 129. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the threatened species or endangered species status of the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
gray wolf
Sec. 130. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” (85 Fed. Reg. 69778 (November 3, 2020)).
wolverine
Sec. 131. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for North American Wolverine” (88 Fed. Reg. 83726 (November 30, 2023)).
north cascades ecosystem grizzly bear
Sec. 132. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Grizzly Bear in the North Cascades Ecosystem, Washington State” (89 Fed. Reg. 36982 (May 3, 2024)).
bitterroot ecosystem grizzly bear
Sec. 133. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to establish an experimental population of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) within the Bitterroot Ecosystem of Montana and Idaho.
fish legally held in captivity
Sec. 134. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to implement, administer, or enforce a proposed or final rule with regard to a fish legally held in captivity or in a controlled environment in a manner that maintains physical separation of such fish from any wild population of the same species.
charles m. russell national wildlife refuge
Sec. 135. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate or allow for the introduction of American bison (Bison bison) on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (as originally established in Executive Order No. 7509, renamed in Public Land Order 2951, and redesignated in Public Land Order 5635).
endangered species act rules
Sec. 136. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce—
(1) the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations Pertaining to Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants” (89 Fed. Reg. 23919 (April 5, 2024));
(2) the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat” (89 Fed. Reg. 24300 (April 5, 2024)); or
(3) the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Interagency Cooperation” (89 Fed. Reg. 24268 (April 5, 2024)).
transparency
Sec. 137. (a) Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue and implement Order No. 3368 “Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements” dated September 11, 2018.
(b) None of the funds made available by this Act shall be available to rescind the Order reissued under subsection (a), reissue, enforce, administer, or implement Order No. 3408 “Rescission of Secretary’s Order 3368” dated June 17, 2022, or to issue, enforce, administer, or implement any substantially similar order.
funding limitation regarding blm rule
Sec. 138. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Conservation and Landscape Health” published by the Bureau of Land Management in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 40308).
grand staircase-escalante national monument
Sec. 139. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used for management of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument except in compliance with the document titled “Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument” (February 2020).
cottonwood
Sec. 140. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Interagency Cooperation” (86 Fed. Reg. 2373 (January 12, 2021)).
funding limitation regarding fish and wildlife service rule
Sec. 141. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule titled “National Wildlife Refuge System; Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health” (89 Fed. Reg. 7345 (February 2, 2024)).
national park service housing
Sec. 142. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the National Park Service to provide housing to an alien without lawful status under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)).
big cypress national preserve
Sec. 143. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall prepare an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), prior to approving an operations permit, as described in 36 Code of Federal Regulations, subpart B §§9.80 through 9.90, for the purpose of conducting or proposing to conduct non-federal oil or gas operations within the Big Cypress National Preserve.
caldwell canyon
Sec. 144. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than December 31, 2024, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue a new Record of Decision for the Caldwell Canyon Mine project that addresses the deficiencies identified by the United States District Court for the District of Idaho in its decisions and orders issued in Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. United States Bureau of Land Management, et al. (Case Number 4:21-CV-00182-BLW) on January 24, 2023, and June 2, 2023.
5-year plan
Sec. 145. Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended—
(A) by striking “subsections (c) and (d) of this section, shall prepare and periodically revise,” and inserting “this section, shall issue every five years”;
(B) by adding at the end the following:
“(5) Each five-year program shall include at least two Gulf of Mexico region-wide lease sales per year.”.
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting “domestic energy security,” after “between”;
(2) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as subsections (g) through (j), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
“(f) Subsequent Leasing Programs.—
“(1) In General.—Not later than 36 months after conducting the first lease sale under an oil and gas leasing program prepared pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall begin preparing the subsequent oil and gas leasing program under this section.
“(2) Requirement.—Each subsequent oil and gas leasing program under this section shall be approved by not later than 180 days before the expiration of the previous oil and gas leasing program.
offshore oil and gas leasing
Sec. 146. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except within areas subject to existing oil and gas leasing moratoria beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior shall annually conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide oil and gas lease sales in the following planning areas of the Gulf of Mexico region, as described in the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016):
(1) The Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
(2) The Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior shall annually conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide oil and gas lease sales in the Alaska region of the Outer Continental Shelf, as described in the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016).
(c) In conducting lease sales under subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary of the Interior shall—
(1) issue such leases in accordance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1332 et seq.); and
(2) include in each such lease sale all unleased areas that are not subject to a moratorium as of the date of the lease sale.
continuing offshore energy
Sec. 147. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall hold Lease Sale 262, which shall include offering for leasing any tracts—
(1) that were offered for leasing under Lease Sale 259 (as defined in section 50264 of Public Law 117–169); and
(2) for which the Secretary of the Interior did not issue a lease.
(b) Leases from Lease Sale 262 shall be conveyed using the same lease form and containing the same lease terms, economic conditions, and lease stipulations as contained in the Final Notice of Sale for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 257 (86 Fed. Reg. 54728 (Oct 4, 2021)).
effect on other law
Sec. 148. Nothing in this Act, or any amendments made by this Act, shall affect—
(a) the Presidential memorandum titled “Memorandum on Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition” and dated September 8, 2020;
(b) the Presidential memorandum titled “Memorandum on Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition” and dated September 25, 2020;
(c) the Presidential memorandum titled “Memorandum on Withdrawal of Certain Areas off the Atlantic Coast on the Outer Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition” and dated December 20, 2016; or
(d) the ban on oil and gas development in the Great Lakes described in section 386 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15941).
marine mammals
Sec. 149. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce any restriction, stipulation, or mitigation related to offshore energy leasing, exploration, development, or production carried out pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) intended to reduce or eliminate possible disturbance to the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), or Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei).
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to any action required to comply with a court order in regard to litigation concerning the document titled “Biological Opinion on the Federally Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in the Gulf of Mexico” (OPR–2017–00002; March 13, 2020) or any environmental document required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) needed for Gulf Of Mexico lease sales, provided that such actions are necessary to prevent a decrease, reduction, or prohibition of access to the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf for energy-related activities.
onshore oil and gas leasing
Sec. 150. (a) (1) The Secretary of the Interior shall immediately resume quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales in compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).
(2) The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure—
(A) that any oil and gas lease sale pursuant to paragraph (1) is conducted immediately on completion of all applicable scoping, public comment, and environmental analysis requirements under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
(B) that the processes described in subparagraph (A) are conducted in a timely manner to ensure compliance with subsection (b)(1).
(3) Section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting “Eligible lands comprise all lands subject to leasing under this Act and not excluded from leasing by a statutory or regulatory prohibition. Available lands are those lands that have been designated as open for leasing under a land use plan developed under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and that have been nominated for leasing through the submission of an expression of interest, are subject to drainage in the absence of leasing, or are otherwise designated as available pursuant to regulations adopted by the Secretary.” after “sales are necessary.”.
(b) (1) In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), each fiscal year, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a minimum of four oil and gas lease sales in each of the following States:
(A) Wyoming.
(B) New Mexico.
(C) Colorado.
(D) Utah.
(E) Montana.
(F) North Dakota.
(G) Oklahoma.
(H) Nevada.
(I) Alaska.
(J) Any other State in which there is land available for oil and gas leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or any other mineral leasing law.
(2) In conducting a lease sale under paragraph (1) in a State described in that paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer all parcels nominated and eligible pursuant to the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) for oil and gas exploration, development, and production under the resource management plan in effect for the State.
(3) The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a replacement sale during the same fiscal year if—
(A) a lease sale under paragraph (1) is canceled, delayed, or deferred, including for a lack of eligible parcels; or
(B) during a lease sale under paragraph (1) the percentage of acreage that does not receive a bid is equal to or greater than 25 percent of the acreage offered.
(4) Not later than 30 days after a sale required under this subsection is canceled, delayed, deferred, or otherwise missed the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that states what sale was missed and why it was missed.
domestic mining
Sec. 151. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce any recommendation of the Interagency Working Group on Mining Regulations, Laws, and Permitting of the Department of the Interior contained in the report titled “Recommendations to Improve Mining on Public Lands” (published September 12, 2023).
ten-day notices
Sec. 152. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Ten-Day Notices and Corrective Action for State Regulatory Program Issues” (89 Fed. Reg. 24714 (April 9, 2024)).
lease cancellations in alaska
Sec. 153. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the cancellation or suspension of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
national petroleum reserve in alaska
Sec. 154. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska” and published by the Bureau of Land Management in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 38712), or any substantially similar rule.
trademark litigation
Sec. 155. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to oppose an application for trademark related to the logo for the Glacier Rough Riders or pursue litigation or other action against the Glacier Range Riders for trademark rights infringement related to such logo.
renewal
Sec. 156. The first section of Public Law 99–338 (100 Stat. 641) is amended—
(1) by striking “3 renewals” and inserting “7 renewals”; and
(2) by striking “of Southern California Edison Company”.
greater yellowstone ecosystem grizzly bear
Sec. 157. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule entitled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” (82 Fed. Reg. 30502 (June 30, 2017)), without regard to any other provision of law that applies to the issuance of that final rule.
(b) The reissuance of the final rule described in subsection (a) (including this section) shall not be subject to judicial review.
wilderness area
Sec. 158. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the National Park Service to designate or manage Big Cypress National Preserve as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
decommissioning account
Sec. 159. The matter under the amended heading “Royalty and Offshore Minerals Management” for the Minerals Management Service in Public Law 101–512 (104 Stat. 1926, as amended) (43 U.S.C. 1338a), as amended by section 123 of title I of division E of (Public Law 118–42), is further amended by striking the fifth through eighth provisos in their entirety and inserting the following: “Provided further, That notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, any moneys hereafter received as a result of the forfeiture of a bond or other security by an Outer Continental Shelf permittee, lessee, or right-of-way holder that does not fulfill the requirements of its permit, lease, or right-of-way or does not comply with the regulations of the Secretary, or as a bankruptcy distribution or settlement associated with such failure or noncompliance, shall be credited to a separate account established in the Treasury for decommissioning activities and shall be available to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation to cover the cost to the United States or any entity conducting any improvement, protection, rehabilitation, or decommissioning work rendered necessary by the action or inaction that led to the forfeiture or bankruptcy distribution or settlement, to remain available until expended: Provided further, That amounts deposited into the decommissioning account may be allocated to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement for such costs: Provided further, That any moneys received for such costs currently held in the Ocean Energy Management account shall be transferred to the decommissioning account: Provided further, That only such portion of the moneys so credited that are in excess of the amount expended in performing the work necessitated by the action or inaction which led to their receipt or, if the bond or security was forfeited for failure to pay the civil penalty, in excess of the civil penalty imposed shall be returned to the bankruptcy estate, permittee, lessee, or right-of-way holder.”.
Science And Technology
For science and technology, including research and development activities, which shall include research and development activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980; necessary expenses for personnel and related costs and travel expenses; procurement of laboratory equipment and supplies; hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; and other operating expenses in support of research and development, $522,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026: Provided, That of the funds included under this heading, $21,475,000 shall be for Research: National Priorities as specified in the report accompanying this Act.
Environmental Programs And Management
For environmental programs and management, including necessary expenses not otherwise provided for, for personnel and related costs and travel expenses; hire of passenger motor vehicles; hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; purchase of reprints; library memberships in societies or associations which issue publications to members only or at a price to members lower than to subscribers who are not members; administrative costs of the brownfields program under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002; implementation of a coal combustion residual permit program under section 2301 of the Water and Waste Act of 2016; and not to exceed $40,000 for official reception and representation expenses, $2,250,445,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026: Provided further, That of the funds included under this heading—
(1) $35,000,000 shall be for Environmental Protection: National Priorities as specified in the report accompanying this Act; and
(2) $651,226,000 shall be for Geographic Programs as specified in the report accompanying this Act.
In addition, $9,000,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary expenses of activities described in section 26(b)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2625(b)(1)): Provided, That fees collected pursuant to that section of that Act and deposited in the ‘TSCA Service Fee Fund’ as discretionary offsetting receipts in fiscal year 2025 shall be retained and used for necessary salaries and expenses in this appropriation and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated in this paragraph from the general fund for fiscal year 2025 shall be reduced by the amount of discretionary offsetting receipts received during fiscal year 2025, so as to result in a final fiscal year 2025 appropriation from the general fund estimated at not more than $0: Provided further, That to the extent that amounts realized from such receipts exceed $9,000,000, those amounts in excess of $9,000,000 shall be deposited in the ‘TSCA Service Fee Fund’ as discretionary offsetting receipts in fiscal year 2025, shall be retained and used for necessary salaries and expenses in this account, and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That of the funds included in the first paragraph under this heading, the Chemical Risk Review and Reduction program project shall be allocated for this fiscal year, excluding the amount of any fees appropriated, not less than the amount of appropriations for that program project for fiscal year 2014.
Office Of Inspector General
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, $43,250,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
Buildings And Facilities
For construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of, or for use by, the Environmental Protection Agency, $40,676,000, to remain available until expended.
Hazardous Substance Superfund
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses to carry out the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), including sections 111(c)(3), (c)(5), (c)(6), and (e)(4) (42 U.S.C. 9611), and hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft, $661,167,000, to remain available until expended, consisting of such sums as are available in the Trust Fund on September 30, 2024, and not otherwise appropriated from the Trust Fund, as authorized by section 517(a) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) and up to $661,167,000 as a payment from general revenues to the Hazardous Substance Superfund for purposes as authorized by section 517(b) of SARA: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading may be allocated to other Federal agencies in accordance with section 111(a) of CERCLA: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, $13,979,000 shall be paid to the “Office of Inspector General” appropriation to remain available until September 30, 2026, and $32,120,000 shall be paid to the “Science and Technology” appropriation to remain available until September 30, 2026.
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program
For necessary expenses to carry out leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities authorized by subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, $80,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which $57,167,000 shall be for carrying out leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities authorized by section 9003(h) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; and $22,833,000 shall be for carrying out the other provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act specified in section 9508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code: Provided, That the Administrator is authorized to use appropriations made available under this heading to implement section 9013 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide financial assistance to federally recognized Indian Tribes for the development and implementation of programs to manage underground storage tanks.
Inland Oil Spill Programs
For expenses necessary to carry out the Environmental Protection Agency’s responsibilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, including hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft, $19,600,000, to be derived from the Oil Spill Liability trust fund, to remain available until expended.
State And Tribal Assistance Grants
For environmental programs and infrastructure assistance, including capitalization grants for State revolving funds and performance partnership grants, $3,680,203,000, to remain available until expended, of which—
(1) $1,203,013,000 shall be for making capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and of which $883,515,000 shall be for making capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds under section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided, That $553,936,004 of the funds made available for capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds and $479,541,446 of the funds made available for capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds shall be for the construction of drinking water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure and for water quality protection in accordance with the terms and conditions specified for such grants in the report accompanying this Act for projects specified for “STAG—Drinking Water State Revolving Fund” and “STAG—Clean Water State Revolving Fund” in the table titled “Interior and Environment Incorporation of Community Project Funding Items” included in the report accompanying this Act, and, for purposes of these grants, each grantee shall contribute not less than 20 percent of the cost of the project unless the grantee is approved for a waiver by the Agency: Provided further, That the Administrator is authorized to use up to $1,500,000 of funds made available for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under this heading under title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381) to conduct the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 603(d)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the limitation on the amounts in a State water pollution control revolving fund that may be used by a State to administer the fund shall not apply to amounts included as principal in loans made by such fund in fiscal year 2025 and prior years where such amounts represent costs of administering the fund to the extent that such amounts are or were deemed reasonable by the Administrator, accounted for separately from other assets in the fund, and used for eligible purposes of the fund, including administration: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (g)(1), (h), and (l) of section 201 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, grants made under title II of such Act for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the United States Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia may also be made for the purpose of providing assistance: (1) solely for facility plans, design activities, or plans, specifications, and estimates for any proposed project for the construction of treatment works; and (2) for the construction, repair, or replacement of privately owned treatment works serving one or more principal residences or small commercial establishments: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the provisions of such subsections (g)(1), (h), and (l) of section 201 and section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, funds reserved by the Administrator for grants under section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act may also be used to provide assistance: (1) solely for facility plans, design activities, or plans, specifications, and estimates for any proposed project for the construction of treatment works; and (2) for the construction, repair, or replacement of privately owned treatment works serving one or more principal residences or small commercial establishments: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding any provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and regulations issued pursuant thereof, up to a total of $2,000,000 of the funds reserved by the Administrator for grants under section 518(c) of such Act may also be used for grants for training, technical assistance, and educational programs relating to the operation and management of the treatment works specified in section 518(c) of such Act: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, funds reserved under section 518(c) of such Act shall be available for grants only to Indian Tribes, as defined in section 518(h) of such Act and former Indian reservations in Oklahoma (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) and Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92–203: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the limitation on amounts in section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, up to a total of 2 percent of the funds appropriated, or $30,000,000, whichever is greater, and notwithstanding the limitation on amounts in section 1452(i) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, up to a total of 2 percent of the funds appropriated, or $20,000,000, whichever is greater, for State Revolving Funds under such Acts may be reserved by the Administrator for grants under section 518(c) and section 1452(i) of such Acts: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the amounts specified in section 205(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, up to 1.5 percent of the aggregate funds appropriated for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program under the Act less any sums reserved under section 518(c) of the Act, may be reserved by the Administrator for grants made under title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and United States Virgin Islands: Provided further, That for fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the limitations on amounts specified in section 1452(j) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, up to 1.5 percent of the funds appropriated for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act may be reserved by the Administrator for grants made under section 1452(j) of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided further, That 10 percent of the funds made available under this title to each State for Clean Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants and 14 percent of the funds made available under this title to each State for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants shall be used by the State to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of forgiveness of principal, negative interest loans, or grants (or any combination of these), and shall be so used by the State only where such funds are provided as initial financing for an eligible recipient or to buy, refinance, or restructure the debt obligations of eligible recipients only where such debt was incurred on or after the date of enactment of this Act, or where such debt was incurred prior to the date of enactment of this Act if the State, with concurrence from the Administrator, determines that such funds could be used to help address a threat to public health from heightened exposure to lead in drinking water or if a Federal or State emergency declaration has been issued due to a threat to public health from heightened exposure to lead in a municipal drinking water supply before the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That in a State in which such an emergency declaration has been issued, the State may use more than 14 percent of the funds made available under this title to the State for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 1452(o) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(o)), the Administrator shall reserve up to $12,000,000 of the amounts made available for fiscal year 2025 for making capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to pay the costs of monitoring for unregulated contaminants under section 1445(a)(2)(C) of such Act: Provided further, That the funds made available under this heading for Community Project Funding grants in this or prior appropriations Acts are not subject to compliance with Federal procurement requirements for competition and methods of procurement applicable to Federal financial assistance, if a Community Project Funding recipient has procured services or products through contracts entered into prior to the date of enactment of this Act that complied with State and/or local laws governing competition;
(2) $45,000,000 shall be for architectural, engineering, planning, design, construction and related activities in connection with the construction of high priority water and wastewater facilities in the area of the United States-Mexico Border, after consultation with the appropriate border commission: Provided, That no funds provided by this appropriations Act to address the water, wastewater and other critical infrastructure needs of the colonias in the United States along the United States-Mexico border shall be made available to a county or municipal government unless that government has established an enforceable local ordinance, or other zoning rule, which prevents in that jurisdiction the development or construction of any additional colonia areas, or the development within an existing colonia the construction of any new home, business, or other structure which lacks water, wastewater, or other necessary infrastructure;
(3) $30,000,000 shall be for grants to the State of Alaska to address drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs of rural and Alaska Native Villages: Provided, That of these funds: (A) the State of Alaska shall provide a match of 25 percent; (B) no more than 5 percent of the funds may be used for administrative and overhead expenses; and (C) the State of Alaska shall make awards consistent with the Statewide priority list established in conjunction with the Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for all water, sewer, waste disposal, and similar projects carried out by the State of Alaska that are funded under section 221 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301) or the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) which shall allocate not less than 25 percent of the funds provided for projects in regional hub communities;
(4) $90,292,000 shall be to carry out section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), including grants, interagency agreements, and associated program support costs: Provided, That at least 10 percent shall be allocated for assistance in persistent poverty counties: Provided further, That for purposes of this section, the term “persistent poverty counties” means any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1993 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, the 2000 decennial census, and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, or any territory or possession of the United States;
(5) $90,000,000 shall be for grants under title VII, subtitle G of the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
(6) $67,800,000 shall be for targeted airshed grants in accordance with the terms and conditions in the report accompanying this Act;
(7) $27,500,000 shall be for grants under subsections (a) through (j) of section 1459A of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–19a): Provided, That for fiscal year 2025, funds provided under subsections (a) through (j) of such section of such Act may be used—
(A) by a State to provide assistance to benefit one or more owners of drinking water wells that are not public water systems or connected to a public water system for necessary and appropriate activities related to a contaminant pursuant to subsection (j) of such section of such Act; and
(B) to support a community described in subsection (c)(2) of such section of such Act;
(8) $28,000,000 shall be for grants under section 1464(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–24(d));
(9) $22,000,000 shall be for grants under section 1459B of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–19b);
(10) $6,500,000 shall be for grants under section 1459A(l) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–19a(l));
(11) $25,500,000 shall be for grants under section 104(b)(8) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(8));
(12) $2,000,000 shall be for grants under section 224 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1302b);
(13) $3,000,000 shall be for grants under section 220 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1300);
(14) $41,000,000 shall be for grants under section 221 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301);
(15) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 4304(b) of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–270);
(16) $3,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 302(a) of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (33 U.S.C. 4282(a)), of which not more than 2 percent shall be for administrative costs to carry out such section: Provided, That notwithstanding section 302(a) of such Act, the Administrator may also provide grants pursuant to such authority to intertribal consortia consistent with the requirements in 40 CFR 35.504(a), to former Indian reservations in Oklahoma (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), and Alaska Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92–203;
(17) $2,250,000 shall be for grants under section 1459F of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–19g);
(18) $4,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 2001 of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–270, 42 U.S.C. 300j–3c note): Provided, That the Administrator may award grants to and enter into contracts with Tribes, intertribal consortia, public or private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals, without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31 and section 6101 of title 41, United States Code, and enter into interagency agreements as appropriate;
(19) $2,000,000 shall be for grants under section 50217(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (33 U.S.C. 1302f(b); Public Law 117–58);
(20) $3,500,000 shall be for grants under section 124 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1276); and
(21) $1,095,333,000 shall be for grants, including associated program support costs, to States, federally recognized Tribes, interstate agencies, Tribal consortia, and air pollution control agencies for multi-media or single media pollution prevention, control and abatement, and related activities, including activities pursuant to the provisions set forth under this heading in Public Law 104–134, and for making grants under section 103 of the Clean Air Act for particulate matter monitoring and data collection activities subject to terms and conditions specified by the Administrator, and under section 2301 of the Water and Waste Act of 2016 to assist States in developing and implementing programs for control of coal combustion residuals, of which: $42,250,000 shall be for carrying out section 128 of CERCLA; $7,000,000 shall be for Environmental Information Exchange Network grants, including associated program support costs; $1,475,000 shall be for grants to States under section 2007(f)(2) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, which shall be in addition to funds appropriated under the heading “Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program” to carry out the provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act specified in section 9508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code other than section 9003(h) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; $18,512,000 of the funds available for grants under section 106 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act shall be for State participation in national- and State-level statistical surveys of water resources and enhancements to State monitoring programs.
Water Infrastructure Finance And Innovation Program Account
For the cost of direct loans and for the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, $64,634,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, including capitalized interest, and total loan principal, including capitalized interest, any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $12,500,000,000: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $5,000,000 shall be used solely for the cost of direct loans and for the cost of guaranteed loans for projects described in section 5026(9) of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to State infrastructure financing authorities, as authorized by section 5033(e) of such Act: Provided further, That the use of direct loans or loan guarantee authority under this heading for direct loans or commitments to guarantee loans for any project shall be in accordance with the criteria published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2020 (85 FR 39189) pursuant to the fourth proviso under the heading “Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account” in division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–94): Provided further, That none of the direct loans or loan guarantee authority made available under this heading shall be available for any project unless the Administrator and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget have certified in advance in writing that the direct loan or loan guarantee, as applicable, and the project comply with the criteria referenced in the previous proviso: Provided further, That, for the purposes of carrying out the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office may request, and the Administrator shall promptly provide, documentation and information relating to a project identified in a Letter of Interest submitted to the Administrator pursuant to a Notice of Funding Availability for applications for credit assistance under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program, including with respect to a project that was initiated or completed before the date of enactment of this Act.
In addition, fees authorized to be collected pursuant to sections 5029 and 5030 of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 shall be deposited in this account, to remain available until expended.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, notwithstanding section 5033 of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, $7,640,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
Administrative Provisions—environmental Protection Agency
(including transfers of funds)
For fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 6303(1) and 6305(1), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in carrying out the Agency’s function to implement directly Federal environmental programs required or authorized by law in the absence of an acceptable Tribal program, may award cooperative agreements to federally recognized Indian Tribes or Intertribal consortia, if authorized by their member Tribes, to assist the Administrator in implementing Federal environmental programs for Indian Tribes required or authorized by law, except that no such cooperative agreements may be awarded from funds designated for State financial assistance agreements.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is authorized to collect and obligate pesticide registration service fees in accordance with section 33 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136w–8), to remain available until expended.
Notwithstanding section 33(d)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136w–8(d)(2)), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may assess fees under section 33 of FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136w–8) for fiscal year 2025.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is authorized to collect and obligate fees in accordance with section 3024 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6939g) for fiscal year 2025, to remain available until expended.
The Administrator is authorized to transfer up to $368,000,000 of the funds appropriated for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative under the heading “Environmental Programs and Management” to the head of any Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of such head, to carry out activities that would support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement programs, projects, or activities; to enter into an interagency agreement with the head of such Federal department or agency to carry out these activities; and to make grants to governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and individuals for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation in furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
The Science and Technology, Environmental Programs and Management, Office of Inspector General, Hazardous Substance Superfund, and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program Accounts, are available for the construction, alteration, repair, rehabilitation, and renovation of facilities, provided that the cost does not exceed $300,000 per project.
For fiscal year 2025, and notwithstanding section 518(f) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1377(f)), the Administrator is authorized to use the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year under section 319 of the Act to make grants to Indian Tribes pursuant to sections 319(h) and 518(e) of that Act.
The Administrator is authorized to use the amounts appropriated under the heading “Environmental Programs and Management” for fiscal year 2025 to provide grants to implement the Southeast New England Watershed Restoration Program.
Notwithstanding the limitations on amounts in section 320(i)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, not less than $2,500,000 of the funds made available under this title for the National Estuary Program shall be for making competitive awards described in section 320(g)(4).
For fiscal year 2025, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Water may, using funds appropriated under the headings “Environmental Programs and Management” and “Science and Technology”, contract directly with individuals or indirectly with institutions or nonprofit organizations, without regard to 41 U.S.C. 5, for the temporary or intermittent personal services of students or recent graduates, who shall be considered employees for the purposes of chapters 57 and 81 of title 5, United States Code, relating to compensation for travel and work injuries, and chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims, but shall not be considered to be Federal employees for any other purpose: Provided, That amounts used for this purpose by the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Water collectively may not exceed $2,000,000.
The Environmental Protection agency shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate with copies of any available Department of Treasury quarterly certification of trust fund receipts collected from section 13601 of Public Law 117–169 and section 80201 of Public Law 117–58, an annual operating plan for such receipts showing amounts allocated by program area and program project, and quarterly reports for such receipts of obligated balances by program area and program project.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
office of the under secretary for natural resources and environment
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, $1,000,000: Provided, That funds made available by this Act to any agency in the Natural Resources and Environment mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff for the office.
Forest Service
forest service operations
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise provided for, $1,035,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028: Provided, That a portion of the funds made available under this heading shall be for the base salary and expenses of employees in the Chief’s Office, the Work Environment and Performance Office, the Business Operations Deputy Area, and the Chief Financial Officer’s Office to carry out administrative and general management support functions: Provided further, That funds provided under this heading shall be available for the costs of facility maintenance, repairs, and leases for buildings and sites where these administrative, general management and other Forest Service support functions take place; the costs of all utility and telecommunication expenses of the Forest Service, as well as business services; and, for information technology, including cybersecurity requirements: Provided further, That funds provided under this heading may be used for necessary expenses to carry out administrative and general management support functions of the Forest Service not otherwise provided for and necessary for its operation.
forest and rangeland research
For necessary expenses of forest and rangeland research as authorized by law, $299,760,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028: Provided, That of the funds provided, $32,000,000 is for the forest inventory and analysis program: Provided further, That all authorities for the use of funds, including the use of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, available to execute the Forest and Rangeland Research appropriation, are also available in the utilization of these funds for Fire Science Research.
state, private, and tribal forestry
For necessary expenses of cooperating with and providing technical and financial assistance to States, territories, possessions, Tribes, and others, and for forest health management, including for invasive plants, and conducting an international program and trade activities as authorized, $282,960,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028, as authorized by law.
national forest system
For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise provided for, for management, protection, improvement, and utilization of the National Forest System, and for hazardous fuels management on or adjacent to such lands, $1,866,465,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028: Provided, That of the funds provided, $30,000,000 shall be deposited in the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund for ecological restoration treatments as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 7303(f): Provided further, That of the funds provided, $43,000,000 shall be for forest products: Provided further, That of the funds provided, $202,000,000 shall be for hazardous fuels management activities, of which not to exceed $30,000,000 may be used to make grants, using any authorities available to the Forest Service under the “State, Private, and Tribal Forestry” appropriation, for the purpose of creating incentives for increased use of biomass from National Forest System lands: Provided further, That $20,000,000 may be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into procurement contracts or cooperative agreements or to issue grants for hazardous fuels management activities, and for training or monitoring associated with such hazardous fuels management activities on Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary determines such activities benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That funds made available to implement the Community Forest Restoration Act, Public Law 106–393, title VI, shall be available for use on non-Federal lands in accordance with authorities made available to the Forest Service under the “State, Private, and Tribal Forestry” appropriation: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 33 of the Bankhead Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1012), the Secretary of Agriculture, in calculating a fee for grazing on a National Grassland, may provide a credit of up to 50 percent of the calculated fee to a Grazing Association or direct permittee for a conservation practice approved by the Secretary in advance of the fiscal year in which the cost of the conservation practice is incurred, and that the amount credited shall remain available to the Grazing Association or the direct permittee, as appropriate, in the fiscal year in which the credit is made and each fiscal year thereafter for use on the project for conservation practices approved by the Secretary: Provided further, That funds appropriated to this account shall be available for the base salary and expenses of employees that carry out the functions funded by the “Capital Improvement and Maintenance” account, the “Range Betterment Fund” account, and the “Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses” account.
capital improvement and maintenance
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise provided for, $157,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028, for construction, capital improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of buildings and other facilities and infrastructure; for construction, reconstruction, and decommissioning of roads that are no longer needed, including unauthorized roads that are not part of the transportation system; and for maintenance of forest roads and trails by the Forest Service as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 532–538 and 23 U.S.C. 101 and 205: Provided, That $6,000,000 shall be for activities authorized by 16 U.S.C. 538(a): Provided further, That funds becoming available in fiscal year 2025 under the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and shall not be available for transfer or obligation for any other purpose unless the funds are appropriated.
acquisition of lands for national forests special acts
For acquisition of lands within the exterior boundaries of the Cache, Uinta, and Wasatch National Forests, Utah; the Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada; and the Angeles, San Bernardino, Sequoia, and Cleveland National Forests, California; and the Ozark-St. Francis and Ouachita National Forests, Arkansas; as authorized by law, $664,000, to be derived from forest receipts.
acquisition of lands to complete land exchanges
For acquisition of lands, such sums, to be derived from funds deposited by State, county, or municipal governments, public school districts, or other public school authorities, and for authorized expenditures from funds deposited by non-Federal parties pursuant to Land Sale and Exchange Acts, pursuant to the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), to remain available through September 30, 2028, (16 U.S.C. 516–617a, 555a; Public Law 96–586; Public Law 76–589, Public Law 76–591; and Public Law 78–310).
range betterment fund
For necessary expenses of range rehabilitation, protection, and improvement, 50 percent of all moneys received during the prior fiscal year, as fees for grazing domestic livestock on lands in National Forests in the 16 Western States, pursuant to section 401(b)(1) of Public Law 94–579, to remain available through September 30, 2028, of which not to exceed 6 percent shall be available for administrative expenses associated with on-the-ground range rehabilitation, protection, and improvements.
gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland research
For expenses authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1643(b), $45,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028, to be derived from the fund established pursuant to the above Act.
management of national forest lands for subsistence uses
For necessary expenses of the Forest Service to manage Federal lands in Alaska for subsistence uses under title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.), $1,099,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028.
wildland fire management
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses for forest fire presuppression activities on National Forest System lands, for emergency wildland fire suppression on or adjacent to such lands or other lands under fire protection agreement, and for emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System lands and water, $2,407,735,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such funds, including unobligated balances under this heading, are available for repayment of advances from other appropriations accounts previously transferred for such purposes: Provided further, That any unobligated funds appropriated in a previous fiscal year for hazardous fuels management may be transferred to the “National Forest System” account: Provided further, That such funds shall be available to reimburse State and other cooperating entities for services provided in response to wildfire and other emergencies or disasters to the extent such reimbursements by the Forest Service for non-fire emergencies are fully repaid by the responsible emergency management agency: Provided further, That funds provided shall be available for support to Federal emergency response: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, $1,011,000,000 shall be available for wildfire suppression operations, and is provided to meet the terms of section 251(b)(2)(F)(ii)(I) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
wildfire suppression operations reserve fund
(including transfers of funds)
In addition to the amounts provided under the heading “Department of Agriculture—Forest Service—Wildland Fire Management” for wildfire suppression operations, $2,390,000,000, to remain available until transferred, is additional new budget authority as specified for purposes of section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided, That such amounts may be transferred to and merged with amounts made available under the headings “Department of the Interior—Department-Wide Programs—Wildland Fire Management” and “Department of Agriculture—Forest Service—Wildland Fire Management” for wildfire suppression operations in the fiscal year in which such amounts are transferred: Provided further, That amounts may be transferred to the “Wildland Fire Management” accounts in the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture only upon the notification of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that all wildfire suppression operations funds appropriated under that heading in this and prior appropriations Acts to the agency to which the funds will be transferred will be obligated within 30 days: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided under this heading is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That, in determining whether all wildfire suppression operations funds appropriated under the heading “Wildland Fire Management” in this and prior appropriations Acts to either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior will be obligated within 30 days pursuant to the preceding proviso, any funds transferred or permitted to be transferred pursuant to any other transfer authority provided by law shall be excluded.
communications site administration
(including transfer of funds)
Amounts collected in this fiscal year pursuant to section 8705(f)(2) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334), shall be deposited in the special account established by section 8705(f)(1) of such Act, shall be available to cover the costs described in subsection (c)(3) of such section of such Act, and shall remain available until expended: Provided, That such amounts shall be transferred to the “National Forest System” account.
administrative provisions—forest service
(including transfers of funds)
Appropriations to the Forest Service for the current fiscal year shall be available for: (1) purchase of passenger motor vehicles; acquisition of passenger motor vehicles from excess sources, and hire of such vehicles; purchase, lease, operation, maintenance, and acquisition of aircraft to maintain the operable fleet for use in Forest Service wildland fire programs and other Forest Service programs; notwithstanding other provisions of law, existing aircraft being replaced may be sold, with proceeds derived or trade-in value used to offset the purchase price for the replacement aircraft; (2) services pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2225, and not to exceed $100,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; (3) purchase, erection, and alteration of buildings and other public improvements (7 U.S.C. 2250); (4) acquisition of land, waters, and interests therein pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 428a; (5) for expenses pursuant to the Volunteers in the National Forest Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558a, 558d, and 558a note); (6) the cost of uniforms as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902; and (7) for debt collection contracts in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3718(c).
Funds made available to the Forest Service in this Act may be transferred between accounts affected by the Forest Service budget restructure outlined in section 435 of division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–94): Provided, That any transfer of funds pursuant to this paragraph shall not increase or decrease the funds appropriated to any account in this fiscal year by more than ten percent: Provided further, That such transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law.
Any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service may be transferred to the Wildland Fire Management appropriation for forest firefighting, emergency rehabilitation of burned-over or damaged lands or waters under its jurisdiction, and fire preparedness due to severe burning conditions upon the Secretary of Agriculture’s notification of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that all fire suppression funds appropriated under the heading “Wildland Fire Management” will be obligated within 30 days: Provided, That all funds used pursuant to this paragraph must be replenished by a supplemental appropriation which must be requested as promptly as possible.
Not more than $50,000,000 of funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for expenditure or transfer to the Department of the Interior for wildland fire management, hazardous fuels management, and State fire assistance when such transfers would facilitate and expedite wildland fire management programs and projects.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Forest Service may transfer unobligated balances of discretionary funds appropriated to the Forest Service by this Act to or within the National Forest System Account, or reprogram funds to be used for the purposes of hazardous fuels management and urgent rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System lands and water: Provided, That such transferred funds shall remain available through September 30, 2028: Provided further, That none of the funds transferred pursuant to this paragraph shall be available for obligation without written notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for assistance to or through the Agency for International Development in connection with forest and rangeland research, technical information, and assistance in foreign countries, and shall be available to support forestry and related natural resource activities outside the United States and its territories and possessions, including technical assistance, education and training, and cooperation with United States government, private sector, and international organizations: Provided, That the Forest Service, acting for the International Program, may sign direct funding agreements with foreign governments and institutions as well as other domestic agencies (including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation), United States private sector firms, institutions and organizations to provide technical assistance and training programs on forestry and rangeland management: Provided further, That to maximize effectiveness of domestic and international research and cooperation, the International Program may utilize all authorities related to forestry, research, and cooperative assistance regardless of program designations.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for expenditure or transfer to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, for removal, preparation, and adoption of excess wild horses and burros from National Forest System lands, and for the performance of cadastral surveys to designate the boundaries of such lands.
None of the funds made available to the Forest Service in this Act or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year shall be subject to transfer under the provisions of section 702(b) of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2257), section 442 of Public Law 106–224 (7 U.S.C. 7772), or section 10417(b) of Public Law 107–171 (7 U.S.C. 8316(b)).
Not more than $82,000,000 of funds available to the Forest Service shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture and not more than $14,500,000 of funds available to the Forest Service shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture for Department Reimbursable Programs, commonly referred to as Greenbook charges: Provided, That nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit or limit the use of reimbursable agreements requested by the Forest Service in order to obtain information technology services, including telecommunications and system modifications or enhancements, from the Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture.
Of the funds available to the Forest Service, up to $5,000,000 shall be available for priority projects within the scope of the approved budget, which shall be carried out by the Youth Conservation Corps and shall be carried out under the authority of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.).
Of the funds available to the Forest Service, $4,000 is available to the Chief of the Forest Service for official reception and representation expenses.
Pursuant to sections 405(b) and 410(b) of Public Law 101–593, of the funds available to the Forest Service, up to $3,000,000 may be advanced in a lump sum to the National Forest Foundation to aid conservation partnership projects in support of the Forest Service mission, without regard to when the Foundation incurs expenses, for projects on or benefitting National Forest System lands or related to Forest Service programs: Provided, That of the Federal funds made available to the Foundation, no more than $300,000 shall be available for administrative expenses: Provided further, That the Foundation shall obtain, by the end of the period of Federal financial assistance, private contributions to match funds made available by the Forest Service on at least a one-for-one basis: Provided further, That the Foundation may transfer Federal funds to a Federal or a non-Federal recipient for a project at the same rate that the recipient has obtained the non-Federal matching funds.
Pursuant to section 2(b)(2) of Public Law 98–244, up to $3,000,000 of the funds available to the Forest Service may be advanced to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in a lump sum to aid cost-share conservation projects, without regard to when expenses are incurred, on or benefitting National Forest System lands or related to Forest Service programs: Provided, That such funds shall be matched on at least a one-for-one basis by the Foundation or its sub-recipients: Provided further, That the Foundation may transfer Federal funds to a Federal or non-Federal recipient for a project at the same rate that the recipient has obtained the non-Federal matching funds.
Any amounts made available to the Forest Service in this fiscal year, including available collections, may be used by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into Federal financial assistance grants and cooperative agreements to support forest or grassland collaboratives in the accomplishment of activities benefitting both the public and the National Forest System, Federal lands and adjacent non-Federal lands. Eligible activities are those that will improve or enhance Federal investments, resources, or lands, including for collaborative and collaboration-based activities, including but not limited to facilitation, planning, and implementing projects, technical assistance, administrative functions, operational support, participant costs, and other capacity support needs, as identified by the Forest Service. Eligible recipients are Indian Tribal entities (defined at 25 U.S.C. 5304(e)), state government, local governments, private and nonprofit entities, for-profit organizations, and educational institutions. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter into such cooperative agreements notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31 when the Secretary determines that the public interest will be benefited and that there exists a mutual interest other than monetary considerations. Transactions subject to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall be publicly advertised and require competition when required by such Title 2. For those transactions not subject to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the agency may require public advertising and competition when deemed appropriate. The term “forest and grassland collaboratives” means groups of individuals or entities with diverse interests participating in a cooperative process to share knowledge, ideas, and resources about the protection, restoration, or enhancement of natural and other resources on Federal and adjacent non-Federal lands, the improvement or maintenance of public access to Federal lands, or the reduction of risk to such lands caused by natural disasters.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service under the headings “National Forest System” and “Forest and Rangeland Research” may be used for fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 expenses associated with primary and secondary schooling for dependents of agency personnel stationed in Puerto Rico, who are subject to transfer and reassignment to other locations in the United States, at a cost not in excess of those authorized for the Department of Defense for the same area, when it is determined by the Chief of the Forest Service that public schools available in the locality are unable to provide adequately for the education of such dependents: Provided, That the Congress hereby ratifies and approves payments for such purposes to agency employees stationed in Puerto Rico made by the Forest Service after August 2, 2005, in accordance with the 19th unnumbered paragraph under the heading “Administrative Provisions, Forest Service” in title III of Public Law 109–54, as amended.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for interactions with and providing technical assistance to rural communities and natural resource-based businesses for sustainable rural development purposes.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for payments to counties within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, pursuant to section 14(c)(1) and (2), and section 16(a)(2) of Public Law 99–663.
Any funds appropriated to the Forest Service may be used to meet the non-Federal share requirement in section 502(c) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056(c)(2)).
The Forest Service shall not assess funds for the purpose of performing fire, administrative, and other facilities maintenance and decommissioning.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service, not to exceed $500,000 may be used to reimburse the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Department of Agriculture, for travel and related expenses incurred as a result of OGC assistance or participation requested by the Forest Service at meetings, training sessions, management reviews, land purchase negotiations, and similar matters unrelated to civil litigation: Provided, That future budget justifications for both the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture should clearly display the sums previously transferred and the sums requested for transfer.
An eligible individual who is employed in any project funded under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) and administered by the Forest Service shall be considered to be a Federal employee for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code.
The Forest Service may employ or contract with an individual who is enrolled in a training program at a longstanding Civilian Conservation Center (as defined in section 147(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197(d))) at regular rates of pay for necessary hours of work on National Forest System lands.
Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available to pay, from a single account, the base salary and expenses of employees who carry out functions funded by other accounts for Enterprise Program, Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, remnant Natural Resource Manager, Job Corps, and National Technology and Development Program.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
indian health services
For expenses necessary to carry out the Act of August 5, 1954 (68 Stat. 674), the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and titles II and III of the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Indian Health Service, $440,282,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, except as otherwise provided herein, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2024; in addition, $150,472,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, for the Electronic Health Record System and the Indian Healthcare Improvement Fund, of which $75,472,000 is for the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund and may be used, as needed, to carry out activities typically funded under the Indian Health Facilities account; and, in addition, $5,124,311,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2025, and remain available through September 30, 2027, except as otherwise provided herein; together with payments received during the fiscal year pursuant to sections 231(b) and 233 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238(b) and 238b), for services furnished by the Indian Health Service: Provided, That funds made available to Tribes and Tribal organizations through contracts, grant agreements, or any other agreements or compacts authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450), shall be deemed to be obligated at the time of the grant or contract award and thereafter shall remain available to the Tribe or Tribal organization without fiscal year limitation: Provided further, That from the amounts that become available on October 1, 2025, $2,500,000 shall be available for grants or contracts with public or private institutions to provide alcohol or drug treatment services to Indians, including alcohol detoxification services: Provided further, That from the amounts that become available on October 1, 2025, $1,048,804,000 shall remain available until expended for Purchased/Referred Care: Provided further, That of the total amount specified in the preceding proviso for Purchased/Referred Care, $54,000,000 shall be for the Indian Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund: Provided further, That from the amounts that become available on October 1, 2025, up to $51,000,000 shall remain available until expended for implementation of the loan repayment program under section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Provided further, That from the amounts that become available on October 1, 2025, $58,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for costs related to or resulting from accreditation emergencies, including supplementing activities funded under the heading “Indian Health Facilities”, of which up to $4,000,000 may be used to supplement amounts otherwise available for Purchased/Referred Care: Provided further, That the amounts collected by the Federal Government as authorized by sections 104 and 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1613a and 1616a) during the preceding fiscal year for breach of contracts shall be deposited in the Fund authorized by section 108A of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1616a–1) and shall remain available until expended and, notwithstanding section 108A(c) of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1616a–1(c)), funds shall be available to make new awards under the loan repayment and scholarship programs under sections 104 and 108 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1613a and 1616a): Provided further, That the amounts made available within this account for the Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program, for Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services, for the Domestic Violence Prevention Program, for the Zero Suicide Initiative, for the housing subsidy authority for civilian employees, for Aftercare Pilot Programs at Youth Regional Treatment Centers, for transformation and modernization costs of the Indian Health Service Electronic Health Record system, for national quality and oversight activities, to improve collections from public and private insurance at Indian Health Service and Tribally operated facilities, for an initiative to treat or reduce the transmission of HIV and HCV, for a maternal health initiative, for the Telebehaviorial Health Center of Excellence, for Alzheimer’s activities, for Village Built Clinics, for a produce prescription pilot, and for accreditation emergencies shall be allocated at the discretion of the Director of the Indian Health Service and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That funds provided in this Act may be used for annual contracts and grants that fall within 2 fiscal years, provided the total obligation is recorded in the year the funds are appropriated: Provided further, That the amounts collected by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the authority of title IV of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1613) shall remain available until expended for the purpose of achieving compliance with the applicable conditions and requirements of titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, except for those related to the planning, design, or construction of new facilities: Provided further, That funding contained herein for scholarship programs under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1613) shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That amounts received by Tribes and Tribal organizations under title IV of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act shall be reported and accounted for and available to the receiving Tribes and Tribal organizations until expended: Provided further, That the Bureau of Indian Affairs may collect from the Indian Health Service, and from Tribes and Tribal organizations operating health facilities pursuant to Public Law 93–638, such individually identifiable health information relating to disabled children as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out its functions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.): Provided further, That none of the funds provided that become available on October 1, 2025, may be used for implementation of the Electronic Health Record System or the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated by this Act, or any other Act, to the Indian Health Service for the Electronic Health Record system shall be available for obligation or expenditure for the selection or implementation of a new Information Technology infrastructure system, unless the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate are consulted 90 days in advance of such obligation.
contract support costs
For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for contract support costs associated with Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act agreements with the Indian Health Service for fiscal year 2025, such sums as may be necessary: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts made available under this heading shall be available for transfer to another budget account: Provided further, That amounts obligated but not expended by a Tribe or Tribal organization for contract support costs for such agreements for the current fiscal year shall be applied to contract support costs due for such agreements for subsequent fiscal years.
payments for tribal leases
For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for leases pursuant to section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)) for fiscal year 2025, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be available for obligation through September 30, 2026: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts made available under this heading shall be available for transfer to another budget account.
indian health facilities
For construction, repair, maintenance, demolition, improvement, and equipment of health and related auxiliary facilities, including quarters for personnel; preparation of plans, specifications, and drawings; acquisition of sites, purchase and erection of modular buildings, and purchases of trailers; and for provision of domestic and community sanitation facilities for Indians, as authorized by section 7 of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a), the Indian Self-Determination Act, and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and for expenses necessary to carry out such Acts and titles II and III of the Public Health Service Act with respect to environmental health and facilities support activities of the Indian Health Service, $344,010,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2024; in addition, $850,864,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2025, and remain available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated for the planning, design, construction, renovation, or expansion of health facilities for the benefit of an Indian Tribe or Tribes may be used to purchase land on which such facilities will be located: Provided further, That not to exceed $500,000 may be used for fiscal year 2026 by the Indian Health Service to purchase TRANSAM equipment from the Department of Defense for distribution to the Indian Health Service and Tribal facilities: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated to the Indian Health Service may be used for sanitation facilities construction for new homes funded with grants by the housing programs of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
administrative provisions—indian health service
Appropriations provided in this Act to the Indian Health Service shall be available for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 at rates not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the maximum rate payable for senior-level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376; hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; purchase of medical equipment; purchase of reprints; purchase, renovation, and erection of modular buildings and renovation of existing facilities; payments for telephone service in private residences in the field, when authorized under regulations approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; uniforms, or allowances therefor as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902; and for expenses of attendance at meetings that relate to the functions or activities of the Indian Health Service: Provided, That in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, non-Indian patients may be extended health care at all Tribally administered or Indian Health Service facilities, subject to charges, and the proceeds along with funds recovered under the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651–2653) shall be credited to the account of the facility providing the service and shall be available without fiscal year limitation: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other law or regulation, funds transferred from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Indian Health Service shall be administered under Public Law 86–121, the Indian Sanitation Facilities Act and Public Law 93–638: Provided further, That funds appropriated to the Indian Health Service in this Act, except those used for administrative and program direction purposes, shall not be subject to limitations directed at curtailing Federal travel and transportation: Provided further, That none of the funds made available to the Indian Health Service in this Act shall be used for any assessments or charges by the Department of Health and Human Services unless such assessments or charges are identified in the budget justification and provided in this Act, or approved by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations through the reprogramming process: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds previously or herein made available to a Tribe or Tribal organization through a contract, grant, or agreement authorized by title I or title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450et seq.), may be deobligated and reobligated to a self-determination contract under title I, or a self-governance agreement under title V of such Act and thereafter shall remain available to the Tribe or Tribal organization without fiscal year limitation: Provided further, That none of the funds made available to the Indian Health Service in this Act shall be used to implement the final rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 1987, by the Department of Health and Human Services, relating to the eligibility for the health care services of the Indian Health Service until the Indian Health Service has submitted a budget request reflecting the increased costs associated with the proposed final rule, and such request has been included in an appropriations Act and enacted into law: Provided further, That with respect to functions transferred by the Indian Health Service to Tribes or Tribal organizations, the Indian Health Service is authorized to provide goods and services to those entities on a reimbursable basis, including payments in advance with subsequent adjustment, and the reimbursements received therefrom, along with the funds received from those entities pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination Act, may be credited to the same or subsequent appropriation account from which the funds were originally derived, with such amounts to remain available until expended: Provided further, That reimbursements for training, technical assistance, or services provided by the Indian Health Service will contain total costs, including direct, administrative, and overhead costs associated with the provision of goods, services, or technical assistance: Provided further, That the Indian Health Service may provide to civilian medical personnel serving in hospitals operated by the Indian Health Service housing allowances equivalent to those that would be provided to members of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service serving in similar positions at such hospitals: Provided further, That the appropriation structure for the Indian Health Service may not be altered without advance notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
National Institutes Of Health
national institute of environmental health sciences
For necessary expenses for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in carrying out activities set forth in section 311(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9660(a)) and section 126(g) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, $75,000,000.
Agency For Toxic Substances And Disease Registry
toxic substances and environmental public health
For necessary expenses for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in carrying out activities set forth in sections 104(i) and 111(c)(4) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and section 3019 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, $76,000,000: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, in lieu of performing a health assessment under section 104(i)(6) of CERCLA, the Administrator of ATSDR may conduct other appropriate health studies, evaluations, or activities, including, without limitation, biomedical testing, clinical evaluations, medical monitoring, and referral to accredited healthcare providers: Provided further, That in performing any such health assessment or health study, evaluation, or activity, the Administrator of ATSDR shall not be bound by the deadlines in section 104(i)(6)(A) of CERCLA: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be available for ATSDR to issue in excess of 40 toxicological profiles pursuant to section 104(i) of CERCLA during fiscal year 2025, and existing profiles may be updated as necessary.
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
Executive Office Of The President
council on environmental quality and office of environmental quality
For necessary expenses to continue functions assigned to the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, and Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1977, and not to exceed $750 for official reception and representation expenses, $1,000,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 202 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, the Council shall consist of one member, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, serving as chairman and exercising all powers, functions, and duties of the Council.
Chemical Safety And Hazard Investigation Board
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses in carrying out activities pursuant to section 112(r)(6) of the Clean Air Act, including hire of passenger vehicles, uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902, rental of space, and for services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem equivalent to the maximum rate payable for senior level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376, $13,824,000: Provided, That the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (Board) shall have not more than three career Senior Executive Service positions: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the individual appointed to the position of Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the position of Inspector General of the Board: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector General of the Board shall utilize personnel of the Office of Inspector General of EPA in performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Board, and shall not appoint any individuals to positions within the Board.
Office Of Navajo And Hopi Indian Relocation
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation as authorized by Public Law 93–531, $3,060,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be derived from unobligated balances from prior year appropriations available under this heading: Provided, That funds provided in this or any other appropriations Act are to be used to relocate eligible individuals and groups including evictees from District 6, Hopi-partitioned lands residents, those in significantly substandard housing, and all others certified as eligible and not included in the preceding categories: Provided further, That none of the funds contained in this or any other Act may be used by the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation to evict any single Navajo or Navajo family who, as of November 30, 1985, was physically domiciled on the lands partitioned to the Hopi Tribe unless a new or replacement home is provided for such household: Provided further, That no relocatee will be provided with more than one new or replacement home: Provided further, That the Office shall relocate any certified eligible relocatees who have selected and received an approved homesite on the Navajo reservation or selected a replacement residence off the Navajo reservation or on the land acquired pursuant to section 11 of Public Law 93–531 (88 Stat. 1716).
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture And Arts Development
payment to the institute
For payment to the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, as authorized by part A of title XV of Public Law 99–498 (20 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.), $13,125,000, which shall become available on July 1, 2025, and shall remain available until September 30, 2026.
Smithsonian Institution
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Smithsonian Institution, as authorized by law, including research in the fields of art, science, and history; development, preservation, and documentation of the National Collections; presentation of public exhibits and performances; collection, preparation, dissemination, and exchange of information and publications; conduct of education, training, and museum assistance programs; maintenance, alteration, operation, lease agreements of no more than 30 years, and protection of buildings, facilities, and approaches; not to exceed $100,000 for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; and purchase, rental, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for employees, $837,802,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, except as otherwise provided herein; of which not to exceed $27,000,000 for the instrumentation program, collections acquisition, exhibition reinstallation, Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, National Museum of the American Latino, and the repatriation of skeletal remains program shall remain available until expended; and including such funds as may be necessary to support American overseas research centers: Provided, That funds appropriated herein are available for advance payments to independent contractors performing research services or participating in official Smithsonian presentations: Provided further, That the Smithsonian Institution may expend Federal appropriations designated in this Act for lease or rent payments, as rent payable to the Smithsonian Institution, and such rent payments may be deposited into the general trust funds of the Institution to be available as trust funds for expenses associated with the purchase of a portion of the building at 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, to the extent that federally supported activities will be housed there: Provided further, That the use of such amounts in the general trust funds of the Institution for such purpose shall not be construed as Federal debt service for, a Federal guarantee of, a transfer of risk to, or an obligation of the Federal Government: Provided further, That no appropriated funds may be used directly to service debt which is incurred to finance the costs of acquiring a portion of the building at 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, or of planning, designing, and constructing improvements to such building: Provided further, That any agreement entered into by the Smithsonian Institution for the sale of its ownership interest, or any portion thereof, in such building so acquired may not take effect until the expiration of a 30 day period which begins on the date on which the Secretary of the Smithsonian submits to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, the Committees on House Administration and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate a report, as outlined in the explanatory statement described in section 4 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–94; 133 Stat. 2536) on the intended sale.
facilities capital
For necessary expenses of repair, revitalization, and alteration of facilities owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution, by contract or otherwise, as authorized by section 2 of the Act of August 22, 1949 (63 Stat. 623), and for construction, including necessary personnel, $121,913,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $10,000 shall be for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
National Gallery Of Art
salaries and expenses
For the upkeep and operations of the National Gallery of Art, the protection and care of the works of art therein, and administrative expenses incident thereto, as authorized by the Act of March 24, 1937 (50 Stat. 51), as amended by the public resolution of April 13, 1939 (Public Resolution 9, 76th Congress), including services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; payment in advance when authorized by the treasurer of the Gallery for membership in library, museum, and art associations or societies whose publications or services are available to members only, or to members at a price lower than to the general public; purchase, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for guards, and uniforms, or allowances therefor, for other employees as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901–5902); purchase or rental of devices and services for protecting buildings and contents thereof, and maintenance, alteration, improvement, and repair of buildings, approaches, and grounds; and purchase of services for restoration and repair of works of art for the National Gallery of Art by contracts made, without advertising, with individuals, firms, or organizations at such rates or prices and under such terms and conditions as the Gallery may deem proper, $171,050,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
repair, restoration and renovation of buildings
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses of repair, restoration, and renovation of buildings, grounds and facilities owned or occupied by the National Gallery of Art, by contract or otherwise, for operating lease agreements of no more than 10 years, that address space needs created by the ongoing renovations in the Master Facilities Plan, as authorized, $17,266,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of this amount, $5,651,000 shall be available for the completion of an off-site art storage facility in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and may be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution for such purposes: Provided further, That contracts awarded for environmental systems, protection systems, and exterior repair or renovation of buildings of the National Gallery of Art may be negotiated with selected contractors and awarded on the basis of contractor qualifications as well as price.
John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts
operations and maintenance
For necessary expenses for the operation, maintenance, and security of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $32,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
capital repair and restoration
For necessary expenses for capital repair and restoration of the existing features of the building and site of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $6,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Woodrow Wilson International Center For Scholars
salaries and expenses
For expenses necessary in carrying out the provisions of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 1356) including hire of passenger vehicles and services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, $12,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
National Foundation On The Arts And The Humanities
National Endowment For The Arts
grants and administration
For necessary expenses to carry out the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, $203,895,000 shall be available to the National Endowment for the Arts for the support of projects and productions in the arts, including arts education and public outreach activities, through assistance to organizations and individuals pursuant to section 5 of the Act, for program support, and for administering the functions of the Act, to remain available until expended.
National Endowment For The Humanities
grants and administration
For necessary expenses to carry out the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, $203,895,000, to remain available until expended, of which $195,645,000 shall be available for support of activities in the humanities, pursuant to section 7(c) of the Act and for administering the functions of the Act; and $8,250,000 shall be available to carry out the matching grants program pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Act, including $6,250,000 for the purposes of section 7(h): Provided, That appropriations for carrying out section 10(a)(2) shall be available for obligation only in such amounts as may be equal to the total amounts of gifts, bequests, devises of money, and other property accepted by the chairman or by grantees of the National Endowment for the Humanities under the provisions of sections 11(a)(2)(B) and 11(a)(3)(B) during the current and preceding fiscal years for which equal amounts have not previously been appropriated.
Administrative Provisions
None of the funds appropriated to the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities may be used to process any grant or contract documents which do not include the text of 18 U.S.C. 1913: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated to the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities may be used for official reception and representation expenses: Provided further, That funds from nonappropriated sources may be used as necessary for official reception and representation expenses: Provided further, That the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts may approve grants of up to $10,000, if in the aggregate the amount of such grants does not exceed 5 percent of the sums appropriated for grantmaking purposes per year: Provided further, That such small grant actions are taken pursuant to the terms of an expressed and direct delegation of authority from the National Council on the Arts to the Chairperson.
Commission Of Fine Arts
salaries and expenses
For expenses of the Commission of Fine Arts under chapter 91 of title 40, United States Code, $3,600,000: Provided, That the Commission is authorized to charge fees to cover the full costs of its publications, and such fees shall be credited to this account as an offsetting collection, to remain available until expended without further appropriation: Provided further, That the Commission is authorized to accept gifts, including objects, papers, artwork, drawings and artifacts, that pertain to the history and design of the Nation’s Capital or the history and activities of the Commission of Fine Arts, for the purpose of artistic display, study, or education: Provided further, That one-tenth of one percent of the funds provided under this heading may be used for official reception and representation expenses.
national capital arts and cultural affairs
For necessary expenses as authorized by Public Law 99–190 (20 U.S.C. 956a), $4,950,000.
Advisory Council On Historic Preservation
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Public Law 89–665), $8,375,000.
National Capital Planning Commission
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the National Capital Planning Commission under chapter 87 of title 40, United States Code, including services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, $8,700,000: Provided, That one-quarter of 1 percent of the funds provided under this heading may be used for official reception and representational expenses associated with hosting international visitors engaged in the planning and physical development of world capitals.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
holocaust memorial museum
For expenses of the Holocaust Memorial Museum, as authorized by Public Law 106–292 (36 U.S.C. 2301–2310), $65,231,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, of which $1,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027, for the Museum’s equipment replacement program; and of which $4,000,000 for the Museum’s repair and rehabilitation program and $1,264,000 for the Museum’s outreach initiatives program shall remain available until expended.
United States Semiquincentennial Commission
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to plan and coordinate observances and activities associated with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, as authorized by Public Law 116–282, the technical amendments to Public Law 114–196, $15,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026.
(including transfers and rescission of funds)
restriction on use of funds
Sec. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available for any activity or the publication or distribution of literature that in any way tends to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal on which Congressional action is not complete other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913.
obligation of appropriations
Sec. 402. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
disclosure of administrative expenses
Sec. 403. The amount and basis of estimated overhead charges, deductions, reserves, or holdbacks, including working capital fund charges, from programs, projects, activities and subactivities to support government-wide, departmental, agency, or bureau administrative functions or headquarters, regional, or central operations shall be presented in annual budget justifications and subject to approval by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Changes to such estimates shall be presented to the Committees on Appropriations for approval.
mining applications
Sec. 404. (a) Limitation of funds.—None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this Act shall be obligated or expended to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws.
(b) Exceptions.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if the Secretary of the Interior determines that, for the claim concerned: (1) a patent application was filed with the Secretary on or before September 30, 1994; and (2) all requirements established under sections 2325 and 2326 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 29 and 30) for vein or lode claims, sections 2329, 2330, 2331, and 2333 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 35, 36, and 37) for placer claims, and section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) for mill site claims, as the case may be, were fully complied with by the applicant by that date.
(c) Report.—On September 30, 2026, the Secretary of the Interior shall file with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on actions taken by the Department under the plan submitted pursuant to section 314(c) of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104–208).
(d) Mineral examinations.—In order to process patent applications in a timely and responsible manner, upon the request of a patent applicant, the Secretary of the Interior shall allow the applicant to fund a qualified third-party contractor to be selected by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to conduct a mineral examination of the mining claims or mill sites contained in a patent application as set forth in subsection (b). The Bureau of Land Management shall have the sole responsibility to choose and pay the third-party contractor in accordance with the standard procedures employed by the Bureau of Land Management in the retention of third-party contractors.
contract support costs, prior year limitation
Sec. 405. Sections 405 and 406 of division F of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113–235) shall continue in effect in fiscal year 2025.
contract support costs, fiscal year 2025 limitation
Sec. 406. Amounts provided by this Act for fiscal year 2025 under the headings “Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Contract Support Costs” and “Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, Contract Support Costs” are the only amounts available for contract support costs arising out of self-determination or self-governance contracts, grants, compacts, or annual funding agreements for fiscal year 2025 with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service: Provided, That such amounts provided by this Act are not available for payment of claims for contract support costs for prior years, or for repayments of payments for settlements or judgments awarding contract support costs for prior years.
forest management plans
Sec. 407. The Secretary of Agriculture shall not be considered to be in violation of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)) solely because more than 15 years have passed without revision of the plan for a unit of the National Forest System. Nothing in this section exempts the Secretary from any other requirement of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) or any other law: Provided, That if the Secretary is not acting expeditiously and in good faith, within the funding available, to revise a plan for a unit of the National Forest System, this section shall be void with respect to such plan and a court of proper jurisdiction may order completion of the plan on an accelerated basis.
prohibition within national monuments
Sec. 408. No funds provided in this Act may be expended to conduct preleasing, leasing and related activities under either the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) within the boundaries of a National Monument established pursuant to the Act of June 8, 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) as such boundary existed on January 20, 2001, except where such activities are allowed under the Presidential proclamation establishing such monument.
limitation on takings
Sec. 409. Unless otherwise provided herein, no funds appropriated in this Act for the acquisition of lands or interests in lands may be expended for the filing of declarations of taking or complaints in condemnation without the approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided, That this provision shall not apply to funds appropriated to implement the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, or to funds appropriated for Federal assistance to the State of Florida to acquire lands for Everglades restoration purposes.
prohibition on no-bid contracts
Sec. 410. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act to executive branch agencies may be used to enter into any Federal contract unless such contract is entered into in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, or Chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, unless—
(1) Federal law specifically authorizes a contract to be entered into without regard for these requirements, including formula grants for States, or federally recognized Indian Tribes;
(2) such contract is authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93–638, 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) or by any other Federal laws that specifically authorize a contract within an Indian Tribe as defined in section 4(e) of that Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)); or
(3) such contract was awarded prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
posting of reports
Sec. 411. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public website of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the national interest.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if—
(1) the public posting of the report compromises national security; or
(2) the report contains proprietary information.
(c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days.
national endowment for the arts grant guidelines
Sec. 412. Of the funds provided to the National Endowment for the Arts—
(1) The Chairperson shall only award a grant to an individual if such grant is awarded to such individual for a literature fellowship, National Heritage Fellowship, or American Jazz Masters Fellowship.
(2) The Chairperson shall establish procedures to ensure that no funding provided through a grant, except a grant made to a State or local arts agency, or regional group, may be used to make a grant to any other organization or individual to conduct activity independent of the direct grant recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit payments made in exchange for goods and services.
(3) No grant shall be used for seasonal support to a group, unless the application is specific to the contents of the season, including identified programs or projects.
national endowment for the arts program priorities
Sec. 413. (a) In providing services or awarding financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 from funds appropriated under this Act, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts shall ensure that priority is given to providing services or awarding financial assistance for projects, productions, workshops, or programs that serve underserved populations.
(1) The term “underserved population” means a population of individuals, including urban minorities, who have historically been outside the purview of arts and humanities programs due to factors such as a high incidence of income below the poverty line or to geographic isolation.
(2) The term “poverty line” means the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a family of the size involved.
(c) In providing services and awarding financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 with funds appropriated by this Act, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts shall ensure that priority is given to providing services or awarding financial assistance for projects, productions, workshops, or programs that will encourage public knowledge, education, understanding, and appreciation of the arts.
(d) With funds appropriated by this Act to carry out section 5 of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965—
(1) the Chairperson shall establish a grant category for projects, productions, workshops, or programs that are of national impact or availability or are able to tour several States;
(2) the Chairperson shall not make grants exceeding 15 percent, in the aggregate, of such funds to any single State, excluding grants made under the authority of paragraph (1);
(3) the Chairperson shall report to the Congress annually and by State, on grants awarded by the Chairperson in each grant category under section 5 of such Act; and
(4) the Chairperson shall encourage the use of grants to improve and support community-based music performance and education.
status of balances of appropriations
Sec. 414. The Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health Service shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate quarterly reports on the status of balances of appropriations including all uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds in each program and activity within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
extension of grazing permits
Sec. 415. The terms and conditions of section 325 of Public Law 108–108 (117 Stat. 1307), regarding grazing permits issued by the Forest Service on any lands not subject to administration under section 402 of the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1752), shall remain in effect for fiscal year 2025.
funding prohibition
Sec. 416. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network is designed to block access to pornography websites.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds necessary for any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
humane transfer and treatment of animals
Sec. 417. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, or the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land administered by the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the “Secretary concerned”), may transfer excess wild horses and burros that have been removed from land administered by the Secretary concerned to other Federal, State, and local government agencies for use as work animals.
(b) The Secretary concerned may make a transfer under subsection (a) immediately on the request of a Federal, State, or local government agency.
(c) An excess wild horse or burro transferred under subsection (a) shall lose status as a wild free-roaming horse or burro (as defined in section 2 of Public Law 92–195 (commonly known as the “Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act”) (16 U.S.C. 1332)).
(d) A Federal, State, or local government agency receiving an excess wild horse or burro pursuant to subsection (a) shall not—
(1) destroy the horse or burro in a manner that results in the destruction of the horse or burro into a commercial product;
(2) sell or otherwise transfer the horse or burro in a manner that results in the destruction of the horse or burro for processing into a commercial product; or
(3) euthanize the horse or burro, except on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian in a case of severe injury, illness, or advanced age.
(e) Amounts appropriated by this Act shall not be available for—
(1) the destruction of any healthy, unadopted, and wild horse or burro under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned (including a contractor); or
(2) the sale of a wild horse or burro that results in the destruction of the wild horse or burro for processing into a commercial product.
forest service facility realignment and enhancement authorization extension
Sec. 418. Section 503(f) of Public Law 109–54 (16 U.S.C. 580d note) shall be applied by substituting “September 30, 2025” for “September 30, 2019”.
use of american iron and steel
Sec. 419. (a) (1) None of the funds made available by a State water pollution control revolving fund as authorized by section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12) shall be used for a project for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water system or treatment works unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project are produced in the United States.
(2) In this section, the term “iron and steel” products means the following products made primarily of iron or steel: lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and restraints, valves, structural steel, reinforced precast concrete, and construction materials.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category of cases in which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this section referred to as the “Administrator”) finds that—
(1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or
(3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
(c) If the Administrator receives a request for a waiver under this section, the Administrator shall make available to the public on an informal basis a copy of the request and information available to the Administrator concerning the request, and shall allow for informal public input on the request for at least 15 days prior to making a finding based on the request. The Administrator shall make the request and accompanying information available by electronic means, including on the official public Internet Web site of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with United States obligations under international agreements.
(e) The Administrator may retain up to 0.25 percent of the funds appropriated in this Act for the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds for carrying out the provisions described in subsection (a)(1) for management and oversight of the requirements of this section.
local cooperator training agreements and transfers of excess equipment and supplies for wildfires
Sec. 420. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into grants and cooperative agreements with volunteer fire departments, rural fire departments, rangeland fire protection associations, and similar organizations to provide for wildland fire training and equipment, including supplies and communication devices. Notwithstanding section 121(c) of title 40, United States Code, or section 521 of title 40, United States Code, the Secretary is further authorized to transfer title to excess Department of the Interior firefighting equipment no longer needed to carry out the functions of the Department’s wildland fire management program to such organizations.
recreation fees
Sec. 421. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) shall be applied by substituting “October 1, 2026” for “September 30, 2019”.
reprogramming guidelines
Sec. 422. None of the funds made available in this Act, in this and prior fiscal years, may be reprogrammed without the advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the reprogramming procedures contained in the report accompanying this Act.
local contractors
Sec. 423. Section 412 of division E of Public Law 112–74 shall be applied by substituting “fiscal year 2025” for “fiscal year 2019”.
shasta-trinity marina fee authority authorization extension
Sec. 424. Section 422 of division F of Public Law 110–161 (121 Stat 1844), as amended, shall be applied by substituting “fiscal year 2025” for “fiscal year 2019”.
interpretive association authorization extension
Sec. 425. Section 426 of division G of Public Law 113–76 (16 U.S.C. 565a–1 note) shall be applied by substituting “September 30, 2025” for “September 30, 2019”.
forest botanical products fee collection authorization extension
Sec. 426. Section 339 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106–113; 16 U.S.C. 528 note), as amended by section 335(6) of Public Law 108–108 and section 432 of Public Law 113–76, shall be applied by substituting “fiscal year 2025” for “fiscal year 2019”.
tribal leases
Sec. 427. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of any lease under section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)), the initial lease term shall commence no earlier than the date of receipt of the lease proposal.
(b) The Secretaries of the Interior and Health and Human Services shall, jointly or separately, during fiscal year 2025 consult with Tribes and Tribal organizations through public solicitation and other means regarding the requirements for leases under section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)) on how to implement a consistent and transparent process for the payment of such leases.
forest ecosystem health and recovery fund
Sec. 428. The authority provided under the heading “Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund” in title I of Public Law 111–88, as amended by section 117 of division F of Public Law 113–235, shall be applied by substituting “fiscal year 2025” for “fiscal year 2020” each place it appears.
allocation of projects, national parks and public land legacy restoration fund and land and water conservation fund
Sec. 429. (a) (1) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall allocate amounts made available from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for fiscal year 2025 pursuant to subsection (c) of section 200402 of title 54, United States Code, and as provided in subsection (e) of such section of such title, to the agencies of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture specified, in the amounts specified, for the stations and unit names specified, and for the projects and activities specified in the table titled “Allocation of Funds: National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Fiscal Year 2025” in the report accompanying this Act.
(2) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate, shall allocate amounts made available for expenditure from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2025 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 200303 of title 54, United States Code, to the agencies and accounts specified, in the amounts specified, and for the projects and activities specified in the table titled “Allocation of Funds: Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2025” in the report accompanying this Act.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (c) of this section, neither the President nor his designee may allocate any amounts that are made available for any fiscal year under subsection (c) of section 200402 of title 54, United States Code, or subsection (a) of section 200303 of title 54, United States Code, other than in amounts and for projects and activities that are allocated by subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section: Provided, That in any fiscal year, the matter preceding this proviso shall not apply to the allocation of amounts for continuing administration of programs allocated funds from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund or the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which may be allocated only in amounts that are no more than the allocation for such purposes in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
(c) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may reallocate amounts from each agency’s “Contingency Fund” line in the table titled “Allocation of Funds: National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Fiscal Year 2025” to any project funded by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund within the same agency, from any fiscal year, that experienced a funding deficiency due to unforeseen cost overruns, in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) “Contingency Fund” amounts may only be reallocated if there is a risk to project completion resulting from unforeseen cost overruns;
(2) “Contingency Fund” amounts may only be reallocated for cost of adjustments and changes within the original scope of effort for projects funded by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund; and
(3) The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture must provide written notification to the Committees on Appropriations 30 days before taking any actions authorized by this subsection if the amount reallocated from the “Contingency Fund” line for a project is projected to be 10 percent or greater than the following, as applicable:
(A) The amount allocated to that project in the table titled “Allocation of Funds: National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Fiscal Year 2025” in the report accompanying this Act; or
(B) The initial estimate in the most recent report submitted, prior to enactment of this Act, to the Committees on Appropriations pursuant to section 430(e) of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118–42).
(d) (1) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the President for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate project data sheets for the projects in the “Submission of Annual List of Projects to Congress” required by section 200402(h) of title 54, United States Code: Provided, That the “Submission of Annual List of Projects to Congress” must include a “Contingency Fund” line for each agency within the allocations defined in subsection (e) of section 200402 of title 54, United States Code: Provided further, That in the event amounts allocated by this Act or any prior Act for the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund are no longer needed to complete a specified project, such amounts may be reallocated in such submission to that agency’s “Contingency Fund” line: Provided further, That any proposals to change the scope of or terminate a previously approved project must be clearly identified in such submission.
(2) (A) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the President for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a list of supplementary allocations for Federal land acquisition and Forest Legacy Projects at the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service that are in addition to the “Submission of Cost Estimates” required by section 200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States Code, that are prioritized and detailed by account, program, and project, and that total no less than half the full amount allocated to each account for that land management Agency under the allocations submitted under section 200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States Code: Provided, That in the event amounts allocated by this Act or any prior Act pursuant to subsection (a) of section 200303 of title 54, United States Code are no longer needed because a project has been completed or can no longer be executed, such amounts must be clearly identified if proposed for reallocation in the annual budget submission.
(B) The Federal land acquisition and Forest Legacy projects in the “Submission of Cost Estimates” required by section 200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States Code, and on the list of supplementary allocations required by subparagraph (A) shall be comprised only of projects for which a willing seller has been identified and for which an appraisal or market research has been initiated.
(C) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the President for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate project data sheets in the same format and containing the same level of detailed information that is found on such sheets in the Budget Justifications annually submitted by the Department of the Interior with the President’s Budget for the projects in the “Submission of Cost Estimates” required by section 200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States Code, and in the same format and containing the same level of detailed information that is found on such sheets submitted to the Committees pursuant to section 427 of division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–94) for the list of supplementary allocations required by subparagraph (A).
(e) The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate quarterly reports on the status of balances of projects and activities funded by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section and the status of balances of projects and activities funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund for amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section, including all uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds, and, for amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section, National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund amounts reallocated pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
policies relating to biomass energy
Sec. 430. To support the key role that forests in the United States can play in addressing the energy needs of the United States, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, consistent with their missions, jointly—
(1) ensure that Federal policy relating to forest bioenergy—
(A) is consistent across all Federal departments and agencies; and
(B) recognizes the full benefits of the use of forest biomass for energy, conservation, and responsible forest management; and
(2) establish clear and simple policies for the use of forest biomass as an energy solution, including policies that—
(A) reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy and recognize biomass as a renewable energy source, provided the use of forest biomass for energy production does not cause conversion of forests to non-forest use;
(B) encourage private investment throughout the forest biomass supply chain, including in—
(i) working forests;
(ii) harvesting operations;
(iii) forest improvement operations;
(iv) forest bioenergy production;
(v) wood products manufacturing; or
(vi) paper manufacturing;
(C) encourage forest management to improve forest health; and
(D) recognize State initiatives to produce and use forest biomass.
small remote incinerators
Sec. 431. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to implement or enforce the regulation issued on March 21, 2011 at 40 CFR part 60 subparts CCCC and DDDD with respect to units in the State of Alaska that are defined as “small, remote incinerator” units in those regulations and, until a subsequent regulation is issued, the Administrator shall implement the law and regulations in effect prior to such date.
timber sale requirements
Sec. 432. No timber sale in Alaska’s Region 10 shall be advertised if the indicated rate is deficit (defined as the value of the timber is not sufficient to cover all logging and stumpage costs and provide a normal profit and risk allowance under the Forest Service’s appraisal process) when appraised using a residual value appraisal. The western red cedar timber from those sales which is surplus to the needs of the domestic processors in Alaska, shall be made available to domestic processors in the contiguous 48 United States at prevailing domestic prices. All additional western red cedar volume not sold to Alaska or contiguous 48 United States domestic processors may be exported to foreign markets at the election of the timber sale holder. All Alaska yellow cedar may be sold at prevailing export prices at the election of the timber sale holder.
transfer authority to federal highway administration for the national parks and public land legacy restoration fund
Sec. 433. Funds made available or allocated in this Act to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture that are subject to the allocations and limitations in 54 U.S.C. 200402(e) and prohibitions in 54 U.S.C. 200402(f) may be further allocated or reallocated to the Federal Highway Administration for transportation projects of the covered agencies defined in 54 U.S.C. 200401(2).
prohibition on use of funds
Sec. 434. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available in this Act or any other Act may be used to promulgate or implement any regulation requiring the issuance of permits under title V of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7661 et seq.) for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.
greenhouse gas reporting restrictions
Sec. 435. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available in this or any other Act may be used to implement any provision in a rule, if that provision requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.
funding prohibition
Sec. 436. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to regulate the lead content of ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) or any other law.
firefighter pay cap
Sec. 437. Section 1701 of division B of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (5 U.S.C. 5547 note), as amended, is further amended by striking “2021 or 2022 or 2023 or 2024” each place it appears and inserting “calendar years 2021 through 2025”.
alaska native regional health entities authorization extension
Sec. 438. Section 424(a) of title IV of division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113–76) shall be applied by substituting “October 1, 2025” for “December 24, 2022”.
wildfire suppression funding and forest management act
Sec. 439. Section 104 of the Wildfire Suppression Funding and Forest Management Activities Act (division O of Public Law 115–141) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking “90” and inserting “180”; and
(2) in paragraph (4) of subsection (b), by inserting the following before the semi-colon: “, and shall include an accounting of any spending in the first two quarters of the succeeding fiscal year that is attributable to suppression operations in the fiscal year for which the report was prepared”.
hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal land
Sec. 440. (a) None of the funds made available by this or any other Act for any fiscal year may be used to prohibit the use of or access to Federal land (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6502)) for hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting if such use or access—
(1) was not prohibited on such Federal land as of January 1, 2013; and
(2) was conducted in compliance with the resource management plan (as defined in section 101 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6511)) applicable to such Federal land as of January 1, 2013.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture may temporarily close, for a period not to exceed 30 days, Federal land managed by the Secretary to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting if the Secretary determines that the temporary closure is necessary to accommodate a special event or for public safety reasons. The Secretary may extend a temporary closure for one additional 90-day period only if the Secretary determines the extension is necessary because of extraordinary weather conditions or for public safety reasons.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the several States to manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law or regulations.
coastal barrier resources act
Sec. 441. Section 6(a) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3505(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(7) Use of a sand source within a System unit by Federal coastal storm risk management projects or their predecessor projects that have used a System unit for sand to nourish adjacent beaches outside the System pursuant to section 5 of the Act of August 18, 1941 (commonly known as the ‘Flood Control Act of 1941’) (55 Stat. 650, chapter 377; 33 U.S.C. 701n) at least once between December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2023, in response to an emergency situation prior to December 31, 2023.”
rescission of department of the interior funds
Sec. 442. The unobligated balances of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under section 50224 of Public Law 117–169 (commonly known as the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”) are hereby rescinded.
executive order funding prohibition
Sec. 443. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce Executive Order No. 13985 of January 20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009, relating to advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government), Executive Order No. 14035 of June 25, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 34593, relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce), or Executive Order No. 14091 of February 16, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 10825, relating to further advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government).
masks and vaccine mandates
Sec. 444. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce any COVID–19 mask or vaccine mandates.
limitation
Sec. 445. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out any program, project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race Theory or any concept associated with Critical Race Theory.
official flags
Sec. 446. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to fly or display a flag over a facility of a Department or agency funded by this Act other than the flag of the United States; the flag of a State, insular area, or the District of Columbia; the flag of a Federally recognized Tribal entity; the official flag of the Secretary of the Interior; the official flag of a U.S. Department or agency; or the POW/MIA flag.
marriage
Sec. 447. (a) In general.—Notwithstanding section 7 of title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction, that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one man and one woman.
(b) Discriminatory action defined.—As used in subsection (a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the Federal Government to—
(1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person referred to in subsection (a);
(2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any charitable contribution made to or by such person;
(3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, accreditation, employment, or other similar position or status from or to such person;
(4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational program, from or to such person; or
(5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora (including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
(c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.—The Federal Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified for purposes of Federal law any person that would be accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such purposes but for a determination against such person wholly or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in subsection (a).
american climate corps
Sec. 448. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the American Climate Corps.
climate change executive orders
Sec. 449. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used to implement any of the following executive orders:
(1) Executive Order No. 13990, relating to Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis;
(2) Executive Order No. 14008, relating to Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad;
(3) Section 6 of Executive Order No. 14013, relating to Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration;
(4) Executive Order No. 14030, relating to Climate-Related Financial Risk;
(5) Executive Order 14037, relating to Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks;
(6) Executive Order No. 14057, relating to Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability;
(7) Executive Order No. 14082, relating to Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; and
(8) Executive Order No. 14096, relating to Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.
natural assets
Sec. 450. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to develop or implement guidance related to the valuation of ecosystem and environmental services and natural assets in Federal regulatory decision-making pursuant to Executive Order 14072 (87 Fed. Reg. 24851, relating to strengthening the Nation’s forests, communities, and local economies).
use of mining claims for ancillary activities
Sec. 451. Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(A) IN GENERAL.—A claimant shall have the right to use, occupy, and conduct operations on public land, with or without the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit, if—
“(i) such claimant makes a timely payment of the location fee required by section 10102 and the claim maintenance fee required by subsection (a); or
“(ii) in the case of a claimant who qualifies for a waiver under subsection (d), such claimant makes a timely payment of the location fee and complies with the required assessment work under the general mining laws.
“(B) OPERATIONS DEFINED.—For the purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘operations’ means—
“(i) any activity or work carried out in connection with prospecting, exploration, processing, discovery and assessment, development, or extraction with respect to a locatable mineral;
“(ii) the reclamation of any disturbed areas; and
“(iii) any other reasonably incident uses, whether on a mining claim or not, including the construction and maintenance of facilities, roads, transmission lines, pipelines, and any other necessary infrastructure or means of access on public land for support facilities.
“(2) FULFILLMENT OF FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT.—A claimant that fulfills the requirements of this section and section 10102 shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of any provision of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act that requires the payment of fair market value to the United States for use of public lands and resources relating to use of such lands and resources authorized by the general mining laws.
“(3) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this subsection may be construed to diminish the rights of entry, use, and occupancy, or any other right, of a claimant under the general mining laws.”.
public land order 7917
Sec. 452. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to enforce Public Land Order 7917 (88 Fed. Reg. 6308 (January 31, 2023)).
mineral leases
Sec. 453. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and not subject to further judicial review, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act the Secretary of the Interior shall reinstate the hardrock mineral leases in the Superior National Forest in the State of Minnesota issued in 2019 and identified as MNES-01352 and MNES-01353.
social cost of carbon
Sec. 454. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to consider or incorporate the social cost of carbon—
(1) as part of any cost-benefit analysis required or performed pursuant to—
(A) any law;
(B) Executive Order No. 13990 (86 Fed. Reg. 7037; relating to protecting public health and the environment and restoring science to tackle the climate crisis);
(C) Executive Order No. 14094 (88 Fed. Reg. 21879; relating to modernizing regulatory review);
(D) the Presidential Memorandum titled “Modernizing Regulatory Review” issued by the President on January 20, 2021;
(E) any revisions to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-4 proposed or finalized under Executive Order No. 14094; or
(F) “Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates under Executive Order 13990,” published under the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, in February of 2021;
(2) in any rulemaking;
(3) in the issuance of any guidance;
(4) in taking any other agency action; or
(5) as a justification for any rulemaking, guidance document, or agency action.
incorporation by reference
Sec. 455. (a) The provisions of the following bills of the 118th Congress are hereby enacted into law:
(1) H.R. 548 (Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act), as passed by the House of Representatives on February 6, 2023.
(2) Title III of H.R. 7408 (America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act) as ordered to be reported on April 16, 2024, by the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
(b) In publishing this Act in slip form and in the United States Statutes at large pursuant to section 112 of title 1, United States Code, the Archivist of the United States shall include after the date of approval at the end an appendix setting forth the text of the sections of the bills referred to in subsection (a).
SPECIAL BASE RATES OF PAY FOR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS
Sec. 456. (a) Subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5332 the following:
Ҥ 5332a. Special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters
“(a) Definitions.—In this section—
“(1) the term ‘firefighter’ means an employee who—
“(A) is a firefighter within the meaning of section 8331(21) or section 8401(14);
“(B) in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to subchapter III of chapter 83, but who does not qualify to be considered a firefighter within the meaning of section 8331(21), would otherwise qualify if the employee had transferred directly to that position after serving as a firefighter within the meaning of that section;
“(C) in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to chapter 84, but who does not qualify to be considered a firefighter within the meaning of section 8401(14), would otherwise qualify if the employee had transferred directly to that position after performing duties described in section 8401(14)(A) for at least 3 years; or
“(D) in the case of an employee who is not subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84, holds a position that the Office of Personnel Management determines would satisfy subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) if the employee were subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84;
“(2) the term ‘General Schedule base rate’ means an annual rate of basic pay established under section 5332 before any additions, such as a locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 or 5304a or a special rate supplement under section 5305;
“(3) the term ‘special base rate’ means an annual rate of basic pay payable to a wildland firefighter, before any additions or reductions, that replaces the General Schedule base rate otherwise applicable to the wildland firefighter and that is administered in the same manner as a General Schedule base rate; and
“(4) the term ‘wildland firefighter’ means a firefighter—
“(A) who is employed by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior; and
“(B) the duties of the position of whom primarily relate to fires occurring in forests, range lands, or other wildlands, as opposed to structural fires.
“(b) Special base rates of pay.—
“(1) ENTITLEMENT TO SPECIAL RATE.—Notwithstanding section 5332, a wildland firefighter is entitled to a special base rate at grades 1 through 15, which shall—
“(A) replace the otherwise applicable General Schedule base rate for the wildland firefighter;
“(B) be basic pay for all purposes, including the purpose of computing a locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 or 5304a; and
“(C) be computed as described in paragraph (2) and adjusted at the time of adjustments in the General Schedule.
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The special base rate for a wildland firefighter shall be derived by increasing the otherwise applicable General Schedule base rate for the wildland firefighter by the following applicable percentage for the grade of the wildland firefighter and rounding the result to the nearest whole dollar:
“(i) For GS–1, 42 percent.
“(ii) For GS–2, 39 percent.
“(iii) For GS–3, 36 percent.
“(iv) For GS–4, 33 percent.
“(v) For GS–5, 30 percent.
“(vi) For GS–6, 27 percent.
“(vii) For GS–7, 24 percent.
“(viii) For GS–8, 21 percent.
“(ix) For GS–9, 18 percent.
“(x) For GS–10, 15 percent.
“(xi) For GS–11, 12 percent.
“(xii) For GS–12, 9 percent.
“(xiii) For GS–13, 6 percent.
“(xiv) For GS–14, 3 percent.
“(xv) For GS–15, 1.5 percent.
“(B) HOURLY, DAILY, WEEKLY, OR BIWEEKLY RATES.—When the special base rate with respect to a wildland firefighter is expressed as an hourly, daily, weekly, or biweekly rate, the special base rate shall be computed from the appropriate annual rate of basic pay derived under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the rules under section 5504(b).”.
(b) The table of sections for subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5332 the following:
“5332a. Special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters.”.
(c) Section 5343 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g) (1) For a prevailing rate employee described in section 5342(a)(2)(A) who is a wildland firefighter, as defined in section 5332a(a), the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior (as applicable) shall increase the wage rates of that employee by an amount (determined at the sole and exclusive discretion of the applicable Secretary after consultation with the other Secretary) that is generally consistent with the percentage increases given to wildland firefighters in the General Schedule under section 5332a.
“(2) An increased wage rate under paragraph (1) shall be basic pay for the same purposes as the wage rate otherwise established under this section.
“(3) An increase under this subsection may not cause the wage rate of an employee to increase to a rate that would produce an annualized rate in excess of the annual rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule.”.
(d) The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after either October 1, 2024 or the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
(e) Notwithstanding section 40803(d)(4)(B) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(d)(4)(B)) and authority provided under the headings “Wildland Fire Management – Forest Service” and “Wildland Fire Management – Department of the Interior” in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the salary increase in such section and under such headings shall not apply to the positions described in such section 40803(d)(4)(B) for service performed on or after the effective date described in subsection (d) of this section.
WILDLAND FIRE INCIDENT RESPONSE PREMIUM PAY
Sec. 457. (a) Subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5, United Sates Code, is amended by inserting after section 5545b the following:
Ҥ 5545c. Incident response premium pay for employees engaged in wildland firefighting
“(a) Definitions.—In this section—
“(1) the term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means—
“(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
“(B) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives;
“(C) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;
“(D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;
“(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
“(F) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
“(G) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
“(H) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
“(2) the term ‘covered employee’ means an employee of the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior who is—
“(A) a wildland firefighter, as defined in section 5332a(a); or
“(B) certified by the applicable agency to perform wildland fire incident-related duties during the period that employee is deployed to respond to a qualifying incident;
“(3) the term ‘incident response premium pay’ means pay to which a covered employee is entitled under subsection (c);
“(4) the term ‘prescribed fire incident’ means a wildland fire originating from a planned ignition in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations to meet specific objectives;
“(5) the term ‘qualifying incident’—
“(i) a wildfire incident, a prescribed fire incident, or a severity incident; or
“(ii) an incident that the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior determines is similar in nature to an incident described in clause (i); and
“(B) does not include an initial response incident that is contained within 36 hours; and
“(6) the term ‘severity incident’ means an incident in which a covered employee is pre-positioned in an area in which conditions indicate there is a high risk of wildfires.
“(b) Eligibility.—A covered employee is eligible for incident response premium pay under this section if—
“(1) the covered employee is deployed to respond to a qualifying incident; and
“(2) the deployment described in paragraph (1) is—
“(A) outside of the official duty station of the covered employee; or
“(B) within the official duty station of the covered employee and the covered employee is assigned to an incident-adjacent fire camp or other designated field location.
“(c) Entitlement to incident response premium pay.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered employee who satisfies the conditions under subsection (b) is entitled to premium pay for the period in which the covered employee is deployed to respond to the applicable qualifying incident.
“(A) FORMULA.—Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), premium pay under paragraph (1) shall be paid to a covered employee at a daily rate of 450 percent of the hourly rate of basic pay of the covered employee for each day that the covered employee satisfies the requirements under subsection (b), rounded to the nearest whole cent.
“(B) LIMITATION.—Premium pay under this subsection may not be paid—
“(i) with respect to a covered employee for whom the annual rate of basic pay is greater than that for step 10 of GS–10, at a daily rate that exceeds the daily rate established under subparagraph (A) for step 10 of GS–10; or
“(ii) to a covered employee in a total amount that exceeds $9,000 in any calendar year.
“(i) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall assess the difference between the average total amount of compensation that was paid to covered employees, by grade, in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
“(ii) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date that is 1 year after the effective date of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall jointly publish a report on the results of the assessment conducted under clause (i).
“(iii) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.—After publishing the report required under clause (ii), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may, in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Secretaries acting jointly, administratively adjust the amount of premium pay paid under this subsection (or take other administrative action) to ensure that the average annual amount of total compensation paid to covered employees, by grade, is more consistent with such amount that was paid to those employees in fiscal year 2023.
“(iv) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 3 days after an adjustment made, or other administrative action taken, under clause (iii) becomes final, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a notification regarding that adjustment or other administrative action, as applicable.
“(d) Treatment of incident response premium pay.—Incident response premium pay under this section—
“(1) is not considered part of the basic pay of a covered employee for any purpose;
“(2) may not be considered in determining a covered employee’s lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued annual leave under section 5551 or section 5552;
“(3) may not be used in determining pay under section 8114 (relating to compensation for work injuries);
“(4) may not be considered in determining pay for hours of paid leave or other paid time off during which the premium pay is not payable; and
“(5) shall be disregarded in determining the minimum wage and overtime pay to which a covered employee is entitled under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).”.
(b) Subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by amending the section heading to read as follows: “Wage-board overtime, Sunday rates, and other premium pay”; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
“(d) A prevailing rate employee described in section 5342(a)(2)(A) shall receive incident response premium pay under the same terms and conditions that apply to a covered employee under section 5545c if that employee—
“(1) is employed by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior; and
“(2) (A) is a wildland firefighter, as defined in section 5332a(a); or
“(B) is certified by the applicable agency to perform wildland fire incident-related duties during the period the employee is deployed to respond to a qualifying incident (as defined in section 5545c(a)).”; and
(2) in section 5547(a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “5545c,” after “5545a,”.
(c) The table of sections for subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by amending the item relating to section 5544 to read as follows:
“5544. Wage-board overtime, Sunday rates, and other premium pay.”; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 5545b the following:
“5545c. Incident response premium pay for employees engaged in wildland firefighting.”.
(d) The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after either October 1, 2024 or the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.
water rights
Sec. 458. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be obligated to require or request, as a condition of the issuance, renewal, or extension of any Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management permit, lease, allotment, easement, or other land use and occupancy, arrangement, the transfer, or relinquishment of any water right, in whole, or in part, granted under State law.
cactus channel
Sec. 459. Subject to the terms provided herein, if the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District submits to the Secretary of Agriculture, not later than 365 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a written request for the conveyance of certain National Forest System land located in the County of Riverside, California, as generally depicted on the map titled “Sunnymead Cactus Avenue Channel Proposed Land Conveyance” and dated “May 13, 2024” the Secretary shall convey to that District all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to those lands: Provided, That the exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land herein identified shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary: Provided further, That then conveyance shall be made by quitclaim deed and subject to existing rights and any other terms and conditions the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States: Provided further, That the District shall pay to the United States fair market value for the conveyed National Forest System land herein identified: Provided further, That the Secretary shall deposit any funds received by the United States from such conveyance in the fund established under Public Law 90–171 (16 U.S.C. 484a) (commonly known as the “Sisk Act”) and such deposits shall be made available without future appropriations: Provided further, That as a condition of the conveyance, the District shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including the survey herein required and any environmental analysis and resource surveys required by Federal law: Provided further, That notwithstanding the requirements of Section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C, 9620(h)), with respect to the National Forest System land herein identified, the Secretary shall only be required to meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants under Section 120(h) and shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate any hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants: Provided further, That if the National Forest System land herein identified is conveyed to the District, the Secretary shall not be required to contribute to the cost of any infrastructure, facilities, or improvements developed on that land after the conveyance.
limitation
Sec. 460. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used for the Climate Justice Alliance.
limitation
Sec. 461. None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Smithsonian Institution by this Act may be made available for partnerships or activities associated with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices.
land withdrawals
Sec. 462. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to withdraw any Federal land from any form of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, or patent under the general mining laws, or disposition under the mineral leasing, mineral materials, or geothermal leasing laws unless such withdrawal is authorized by an Act of Congress.
fast-41
Sec. 463. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule titled “Revising Scope of the Mining Sector of Projects That Are Eligible for Coverage Under Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act” (88 Fed. Reg. 65350; September 22, 2023).
privately owned mineral estates
Sec. 464. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to issue or revise any regulation pursuant to Section 17(o) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(o)) relating to oil and gas development of outstanding and reserved mineral rights within the Allegheny National Forest.
appraisals
Sec. 465. Section 5 of the Act of June 22, 1948 (62 Stat. 568, chapter 593; 16 U.S.C. 577g), is amended by striking “of the fair appraised value of such” and inserting “of the highest fair appraised value, including the historical fair appraised value, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with this section, of such”.
waters of the united states
Sec. 466. Not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees any guidance documents relating to the implementation of the rule entitled “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’; Conforming” published by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on September 8, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 61964).
pesticides
Sec. 467. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to issue or adopt any guidance or any policy, take any regulatory action, or approve any labeling or change to such labeling that is inconsistent with or in any respect different from the conclusion of—
(a) a human health assessment performed pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); or
(b) a carcinogenicity classification for a pesticide.
steam rule
Sec. 468. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Supplemental Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 40198).
small off-road engine waiver
Sec. 469. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to approve a waiver submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency by the State of California, pursuant to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7543(e)), for the State of California’s amendments to its rule titled “Small Off-Road Engine Regulations: Transition to Zero Emissions”.
ozone good neighbor
Sec. 470. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Federal ‘Good Neighbor Plan’ for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on June 5, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 36654).
epa office of inspector general
Sec. 471. Beginning on October 1, 2024, of the amounts made available to the Environmental Protection Agency under each of sections 60101, 60102, 60104, 60105, 60106, 60107, 60108, 60109, 60110, 60111, 60112, 60113, 60115, 60116, and 60201 of Public Law 117–169, two-tenths of one percent of such amounts shall be transferred to the Office of the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency for oversight of funding provided to the Environmental Protection Agency by such Public Law: Provided, That amounts so transferred shall be derived from the unobligated balances of amounts under each such section.
clean power plan
Sec. 472. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 39798).
ethylene oxide
Sec. 473. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed interim registration review decision and draft risk assessment addendum for ethylene oxide described in the notice titled “Pesticide Registration Review; Proposed Interim Decision and Draft Risk Assessment Addendum for Ethylene Oxide; Notice of Availability” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on April 13, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 22447) unless the Commissioner of Food and Drugs certifies that, as relevant, finalization, implementation, administration, or enforcement of such rule, decision, or addendum for ethylene oxide will not adversely impact the availability of ethylene oxide to sterilize medical products in the United States or result in the movement of any sterilization capacity of such products outside of the United States.
light- and medium-duty vehicles
Sec. 474. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 27842), or any substantially similar rule.
heavy-duty vehicles
Sec. 475. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3” and published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 29440), or any substantially similar rule.
clean water act section 401
Sec. 476. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule of the Environmental Protection Agency, titled “Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule”, and published on September 27, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 66558).
interagency working group on social cost of greenhouse gases
Sec. 477. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases.
nepa greenhouse gas guidance
Sec. 478. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the notice of interim guidance titled “National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change” published by the Council on Environmental Quality in the Federal Register on January 9, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 1196).
nepa phase 1
Sec. 479. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions” published by the Council on Environmental Quality in the Federal Register on April 20, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 23453).
nepa phase 2
Sec. 480. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2” published by the Council on Environmental Quality in the Federal Register on May 1, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 35442).
oil and natural gas
Sec. 481. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on March 8, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 16820).
risk management programs
Sec. 482. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act; Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on March 11, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 17622).
ghg reporting
Sec. 483. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on May 14, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 42062).
meat and poultry products
Sec. 484. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule titled “Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on January 23, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 4474).
disposal of coal combustion residuals
Sec. 485. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Legacy CCR Surface Impoundments” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on May 8, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 38950).
aerially applied fire retardant
Sec. 486. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to ban the use of aerially applied fire retardant.
california rcra action
Sec. 487. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement a regulation issued by the State of California, pursuant to the authority provided under the 2009 Memorandum of Agreement between the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and Region IX of the Environmental Protection Agency (or any successor agreement), that classifies metal shredding facilities as hazardous waste treatment facilities.
report on cellulosic biofuels
Sec. 488. (a) Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report outlining a plan to qualify any fuel derived from waste plastic or waste tires as cellulosic biofuel under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)).
(b) In preparing the report described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with relevant stakeholders and incorporate into such report any input from such stakeholders that the Administrator determines appropriate.
good neighbor authority
Sec. 489. (a) Section 8206(b)(2)(C)(ii) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is amended by striking “2024” and inserting “2025”.
(b) Notwithstanding the amendment made by subsection (a), the authorities provided by title III of the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (as enacted by section 455 of this Act), and the terms and conditions of such Act, shall apply to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
methane fee
Sec. 490. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used—
(1) to develop, propose, finalize, implement, or enforce regulations implementing subsection (c) of section 136 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7436); or
(2) otherwise impose, collect, or enforce a charge on methane emissions under such section 136.
limitation
Sec. 491. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule titled “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review” published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 38508).
state permit program
Sec. 492. The notice of the Environmental Protection Agency approving the State of Florida's request to carry out a permit program for the discharge of dredged or fill material pursuant to section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), published on December 22, 2020, and titled “EPA's Approval of Florida's Clean Water Act Section 404 Assumption Request” (85 Fed. Reg. 83553) shall have the force and effect of law.
iris
Sec. 493. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to develop, finalize, issue, or use assessments under the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).
upper columbia river
Sec. 494. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used to finalize, implement, or administer the addition of the Upper Columbia River, Washington site under the General Superfund Section of the proposed rule entitled “National Priorities List” and published by the Environmental Protection Agency on March 7, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 16502).
old-growth
Sec. 495. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to—
(1) finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the environmental impact statement entitled ‘‘EIS No. 20240110, Draft, USFS, NAT, Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System’’ published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on June 21, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 52039) or any substantially similar environmental impact statement; or
(2) carry out any proposed action included in such environmental impact statement (or notice relating to such environmental impact statement) or any substantially similar action.
naaqs rule
Sec. 496. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the final rule entitled ‘‘Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter’’ and published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on March 6, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 16202).
spending reduction account
This division may be cited as the “Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025”.
Union Calendar No. 481 | |||||
| |||||
[Report No. 118–581] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes. | |||||
July 11, 2024 | |||||
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed |