Senate FY 2015 U.S. Geological Survey Appropriations Bill
A draft version of the report accompanying the FY 2015 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was released by Senate appropriators on August 1. This bill provides funding for the U.S. Geological Survey. The appropriations process is stalled and it is unknown when the subcommittee and full committee will consider the bill. The House Appropriations Committee approved its version of this bill, HR 5171, on July 23.
Pages 21 through 23 of the report provide the subcommittee’s recommendations for the U.S. Geological Survey:
Total USGS:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $1,032.0 million
The FY 2015 request is $1,073.3 million, an increase of $41.3 million or 4.0 percent
The House bill provides $1,035.7 million, an increase of $3.7 million or 0.4 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $1,046.0 million, an increase of $14.0 million or 1.4 percent above current funding
Within this budget are the following programs:
Ecosystems:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $152.8 million
The FY 2015 request is $162.0 million, an increase of $9.2 million or 6.0 percent
The House bill provides $153.2 million, an increase of $0.4 million or 0.3 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $155.1 million, an increase of $2.3 million or 1.5 percent above current funding
Climate and Land Use Change:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $132.0 million
The FY 2015 request is $149.1 million, an increase of $17.1 million or 13.0 percent
The House bill provides $133.4 million, an increase of $1.4 million or 1.1 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $137.0 million, an increase of $5.0 million or 3.8 percent above current funding
Energy, Minerals, and Environmental Health:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $91.5 million
The FY 2015 request is $99.1 million, an increase of $7.6 million or 8.3 percent
The House bill provides $91.6 million, an increase of $0.1 million or 0.1 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $93.1 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 1.8 percent above current funding
Natural Hazards:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $128.5 million
The FY 2015 request is $128.4 million, a decrease of $0.1 million or 0.1 percent
The House bill provides $133.2 million, an increase of $4.7 million or 3.7 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $135.3 million, an increase of $6.8 million or 5.3 percent above current funding
Report language on pages 22-23 states:
“Within the Earthquake Hazards program, an increase of $5,000,000 is included for development of a public earthquake early warning pilot program, which will support work in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. Within the Volcano Hazards program, an increase of $2,000,000 is provided to assist the Survey in repairing and upgrading current systems. Several monitors are currently inoperable and maintenance is needed to continue rapid detection for public safety dissemination, including information critical to civilian and military air routes. The increase should be directed to the highest risk volcanoes as described in the Survey’s 2005 volcano assessment inventory. The Survey’s Landslide Hazards program has been an important partner in the delivery of emergency assessments of debris flow hazards following several major fires in Colorado and California. This important public safety program is encouraged to continue and strengthen its partnerships with other Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, as well as State and local emergency managers, in order to increase the dissemination of information and enhance coordination among them. In agreement with the request, a $1,000,000 reduction has been taken to the coastal and marine geology program.”
The FY 2014 appropriation was $207.3 million
The FY 2015 request is $210.4 million, an increase of $3.1 million or 1.5 percent
The House bill provides $209.3 million, an increase of $2.0 million or 1.0 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $211.5 million, an increase of $4.2 million or 2.0 percent above current funding
Core Science Systems:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $108.8 million
The FY 2015 request is $109.4 million, an increase of $0.6 million or 0.6 percent
The House bill provides $106.2 million, a decrease of $2.6 million or 2.4 percent below current funding
The Senate bill provides $106.7 million, a decrease of $2.1 million or 1.9 percent below current funding
Science Support (new name):
The FY 2014 appropriation was $110.7 million
The FY 2015 request is $108.3 million, a decrease of $2.4 million or 2.2 percent
The House bill provides $105.6 million, a decrease of $5.1 million or 4.6 percent below current funding
The Senate bill provides $106.1 million, a decrease of $4.6 million or 4.2 percent below current funding
Facilities:
The FY 2014 appropriation was $100.4 million
The FY 2015 request is $106.7 million, an increase of $6.3 million or 6.3 percent
The House bill provides $103.3 million, an increase of $2.9 million or 2.9 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $101.3 million, an increase of $0.9 million or 0.9 percent above current funding
