House Appropriators Burn Thru Spending Measures

This week, the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittees approved spending bills that are of relevance for petroleum marketers.

On Wednesday, the Subcommittee with jurisdiction over EPA approved $7.5 billion for FY 2018, the lowest level in a decade, but not as stringent of a reduction than the $2.6 billion cut sought by the White House.

• Funding for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Program is consistent with past years at $92 million for FY 2018. In June, PMAA sent a joint letter to House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) urging them to reject President Trump’s FY 2018 budget request of $47 million for the LUST Trust Fund Program because that funding amount is inadequate. This could be problematic because if states do not receive funding, then they will find other ways to cover their costs including increasing tank fees. In previous years, Congress has appropriated between $90 - $100 million each year; an amount PMAA would like Congress to continue to appropriate.

For more detailed information on the appropriations bills including LIHEAP and CFTC funding and its impact on petroleum marketers, please click here.