The House of Representatives Passes Critical Federal Funding to Combat Climate Change

Today, the House of Representatives passed critical funding legislation to address the rising threat of climate change and to conserve open space and waterways in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. The 2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations spending bill supplies $43.4 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $7.3 billion above 2021, and includes several provisions requested by Representative Malinowski that will directly benefit his constituents.

Representative Malinowski fought to include resources in the bill to detect, prevent, treat, and eliminate harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are known to contaminate drinking water treatment facilities and force the closure of bodies of water for recreational activities. Through funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds will receive $3.23 billion for low-interest loans to help finance water infrastructure improvements and water quality protection projects, which will confront the rising threat of HABs.

"Devastating algal blooms have become an annual problem for the communities around Budd Lake and Lake Hopatcong; straining our local economies and making recreational swimming and boating impossible at the height of the season," said Representative Malinowski. "I'm pleased the House has acted on today's legislation, which will support efforts to protect our lakes while strengthening the fight against climate change."

Additional provisions from the bill that Representative Malinowski requested, include:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $1.9, billion an increase of $301 million above the FY2021 enacted level, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including $10 million for the Highlands Conservation Act and $12.5 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program.
PFAS Regulation: $61.8 million in funding for scientific and regulatory work on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) needed to establish drinking water and cleanup standards. This funding builds on the $49 million the EPA received in 2021.
National Estuary Program: $23 million for grants to states to improve the water quality and ecological integrity of our nation's most significant estuaries, including parts of the Raritan, Rahway, Elizabeth, and Hackensack Rivers in New Jersey.
National Park Service: $3.5 billion, an increase of $325 million above the FY2021 enacted level, including $4.9 million for the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers program which helps rivers -- like the Musconetcong -- preserve unique natural and cultural resources as well as monitor water quality.
Hazardous Substance Superfund Account: $1.54 billion, an increase of $331 million above the FY2021 enacted level and $2.5 million above the President's request, for cleaning up the nation's most contaminated land and responding to environmental emergencies, oil spills, and natural disasters.
Brownfield Cleanups: $131 million, a $49 million increase above the FY2021 enacted level, to help communities and states assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties.

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