April 28, 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative,

You will soon vote on the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.  The bill provides $35.4 billion in funding for agencies under its jurisdiction, which is a $1.2 billion increase over current levels and $633 million less than the president’s budget request.  After analyzing the bill, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) located several spending cut recommendations included in Prime Cuts 2015.  On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of CCAGW, I urge you to reduce or eliminate the following programs (figures are the funding levels in the bill):

• Reduce funding for fossil energy research and development ($605 million)

• Eliminate funding for nuclear energy research and development ($505 million)

• Reduce the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ($212 million)

• Terminate research and development on the Unconventional Fossil Technology Program ($13 million)

• Sell the Southeastern Power Administration and related power-generating assets (while the agency is self-funded through fees, end users would enjoy significant savings from its sale).

I urge you to offer or support any amendments that cut spending from these programs, which could completely offset the $1.2 billion spending increase in this bill.  All votes on the FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2015 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW