June 25, 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative,

You will soon consider the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.  The bill provides $30.17 billion in funding for agencies under its jurisdiction, which is $246 million below the FY 2015 level and $3 billion 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 or report):

• Eliminate the BLM’s Range Improvement Fund ($10 million)

• Eliminate the National Wildlife Refuge Fund ($13 million)

• Eliminate BIA Johnson-O’Malley Assistance Grants ($14 million)

I urge you to offer or support any amendments that cut spending from these programs.  All votes on the FY 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2015 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW