WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 19, 2018) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after the House passed the Interior, Environment, Financial Services, and General Government Appropriations Act, FY2019 (H.R. 6147).

“With this legislation, we are continuing to prioritize issues that matter to the American people, like fully funding wildfire suppression and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), and repealing burdensome and unreasonable rules like Waters of the United States. Our local communities and their leaders know how to manage our land and resources better than federal bureaucrats, which is why this bill returns local decision-making to Eastern Washington and communities across the country. At the same time, we are keeping communities safe and maintaining our beautiful, abundant public land as a recreational outlet for all walks of life.

“In addition, this bill contains important priorities that build on our work to combat the opioid epidemic, rein in federal regulations, and to also keep America safe by strengthening our tools to stop terrorist groups.

“As I’ve said before, the People’s House is leading the appropriation process to ensure every dollar is spent wisely and efficiently. That’s why we also took action today to safeguard funding for future generations. For the first time, thanks to a proposal led by of Rep. Tom Graves, we are creating a new Fund for America’s Kids and Grandkids that can only be spent when the budget deficit is erased.”

NOTE: This bill includes important priorities for Cathy and wins for Eastern Washington including:

• $500 million for “Payments In Lieu of Taxes” (PILT) program
• $3.9 billion for wildland firefighting and prevention programs
• Repealing the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule
• Delisting the gray wolf and prevents the reintroduction of the grizzly bear
• An amendment authored by the Congresswoman prohibiting the use of funds for the implementation of Washington State’s preempted water quality standard