U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary

Michael Gauldin (202)208-6416


For Release: May 21, 1996

Statement by Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt "Congressional Republicans today announced budget allocations that would be the worst environmental disaster since their last budget." "Within one week, we've seen Speaker Gingrich and the Republican leadership of this Congress announce their commitment to `environmental values' and, almost in the same breath, renew last year's failed sneak attack on the environment.

"The House Appropriations Committee today announced budget allocations that would cut funding for the Interior Department and related agencies like the Forest Service and the Indian Health Service by $895 million below the 1996 level -- about $2.1 billion below the 1995 level. For the Department of the Interior, this would mean a 7 percent or greater cut for the second year in a row. It is likely to mean a budget $890 million below the President's request for 1996. "An additional cut that could exceed $100 million, or 15%, is targeted at the Bureau of Reclamation, which is funded separately from the rest of the Interior Department. Such a cut is likely to reverse the Bureau's recent efforts to improve the management of the West's scarce water resources as we move into the 21st Century. "This is another declaration of budgetary war on the environment. There is no way these cuts can avoid deep and permanent damage to: National Park units; public lands; endangered species; science programs; water programs; earthquake monitoring; restoring damaged and polluted watersheds; hunting and fishing opportunities; energy conservation; and Indian tribes who desperately need funding for vital services. "Evidently the Republicans' statements about their commitment to the environment have all been a big hoax. They're back to business as usual -- undercutting our environment to pay their political debts to the wealthy business interests that paid for their campaigns. "President Clinton has submitted a reasonable budget that would move us toward a balanced budget in seven years, as he promised, while providing money for education, health and the environment. If Congress wants to gut environmental programs, let them come out and debate the issues publicly instead of hiding their real agenda behind the budget process." -DOI-