House GOP's short-term spending bill does not target EPA

The short-term spending bill released Friday by House Republicans does not include language to block funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate rules or slash the agency’s budget.

The continuing resolution (CR) would fund the government for two weeks while lawmakers work out a longer-term spending bill to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year. The Republican proposal would cut current spending by $4 billion. Democrats said Friday they were “encouraged” by the proposal.

The House passed earlier this month a broad continuing resolution that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. The measure, which would cut current spending by $61 billion, includes a provision to block funding for EPA climate regulations. The agency began phasing in climate regulations in January and is in the process of developing broader greenhouse gas emissions standards.

The short-term CR does cut millions of dollars in energy earmarks, including funds for nuclear energy research, energy efficiency and fossil energy research.