Statement of U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, II
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources
Hearing on President's FY 2009 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior
February 14, 2008

Mr. Secretary, thank you for appearing before the Committee today.  I cannot remember the last time the Secretary of the Interior came before this Committee, but I assure you it has been a long time. 

Mr. Secretary, the President's proposed FY 2009 budget request for the Department of the Interior nearly broke my heart. 

Seeing your hands tied in red ribbons thanks to the escalating deficit and the reported $343 million per day American taxpayers are spending to fund the Iraq war, I did not expect bouquets of roses. 

But Mr. Secretary, there are some things you can do that do not require more money.  They require different priorities and values than the ones rewarded in the FY 2009 budget request. 

For example, it is hard to see the benefits American Indians will receive if tribal priority allocations, providing funding for housing improvements, education and welfare assistance, are cut by more than $64 million, as the President proposes.  Even though 76 percent of all Indian reservation roads are unpaved, the budget proposal would cut road maintenance funding in half. 

On another matter near and dear to both our hearts, I am very disappointed that you have not restored rigorous science to the endangered species program.  Several years ago, before you became Secretary, the Inspector General recommended institution of a Department-wide scientific code of ethics that would apply to policymakers like former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald.   Last year, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall testified that a code of scientific conduct was drafted but never finalized or issued Department-wide. It seems to me that it is in our mutual interests that this code be instituted. 

Mr. Secretary, on this Valentine's Day I will not be blowing you any kisses over this budget.  Like every budget since FY 2002, the Administration has once again proposed dramatic increases for the energy and minerals program at the expense of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) range, wildlife, fisheries, cultural and recreational programs. In FY 2009, the Administration proposes to nearly double the $74 million provided in FY 2008, and recommends $131 million for the energy and minerals program. The budget severely undermines the BLM's mandate to manage public lands for multiple uses.

Mr. Secretary, the new budget initiatives, Birds Forever, National Parks Centennial and Water for America, remind me of large bars of enticing but hollow chocolate; they look good on the outside but there is no creamy filling.  It is hard to see how new money will support them, with a proposed budget that fails to account for inflation.   The Administration has not formally proposed an offset for the $1 billion in direct spending in the National Park Centennial Initiative. If the Administration wants to provide water for America, the Bureau of Reclamation should provide more funding for the popular Title 16 water reuse program, instead of cutting last year's enacted level by 70 percent.

Mr. Secretary, it seems to me that we could be doing more to stop sweetheart deals, even on Valentine's Day.  That is why I support your budget's proposed repeal of Section 344 and 345 of the Energy Policy Act, which created additional royalty relief for production of difficult-to-reach oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico.  I also support the proposal to require oil and gas operators to pay the costs to process Applications for Permits to Drill on the public lands.  Both items were included in this Committee's, and the House-passed energy bill, last year.  I look forward to working with you and Members on your side of the aisle who previously opposed these provisions.

Thank you again Mr. Secretary for appearing before the Committee.  We look forward to your testimony, and answers to our questions.