Washington, D.C. - The Senate passed the Interior Appropriations conference report today, which U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., said provides important funding for Wyoming projects. The Senate passed the conference report by a vote of 87-2.
“The Interior bill is one of the most important spending measures to Wyoming when you consider the impact it has on our public lands and natural resources. This year's bill has been carefully crafted to reflect a number of high profile issues in our state that will improve recreational opportunities, visitor services, and energy production,” the senators said.
Wyoming projects funded in the legislation include:
$4 million increase to the account that provides funds for the continued operation of the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center in Casper
$3 million for the Grand Teton National Park Visitors Center
$1,892,000 for snow coaches and support infrastructure at Yellowstone National Park
$1,888,000 for reconstruction of West Entrance Station of Yellowstone National Park
$515,000 for wolf monitoring in Wyoming and Montana
$250,000 for the Jackson Seismic/Yellowstone
The bill also includes about $2.9 billion to prevent and fight wildfires, $400 million of which will be used to repay the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management for past forest firefighting costs.
The overall bill provides nearly $20 billion in funding for federal agencies such as the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the USFS.
The House passed the conference report last week by a vote of 216-205. The bill will next be sent to the President to sign into law.
Wyo. senators pleased with Interior Appropriations passage
November 3, 2003
$5,973,000 for the restoration of the Old House at Old Faithful Inn
-end-
