U.S. Congress seeks to maintain USGS water science funds

The U.S. Congress is working to restore funds for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water quality programs that are on the Bush administration's chopping block for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003. The House Appropriations Committee on July 17 passed its FY 2003 appropriations bill for the Department of Interior, which recommends $14 million increase over FY 2002 funding levels. The Senate Appropriations Committee introduced its FY 2003 Interior appropriations bill on June 28, recommending $926.7 million for USGS, $12.3 million above FY 2002 levels. Both recommendations are above the Bush administration's budget request for USGS and both would restore funds to water quality programs slated for significant cuts in the proposed Bush budget.