NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY PROGRAMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, FISCAL YEARS 1981, 1982, 1983

1 The spending request for the Corps of Engineers partially offset by receipts derived from new user fees for coastal and inland waterway operations and maintenance. The administration's request assumed 100 percent cost recovery ($519,000,000); the committee recommendation assumes 25 percent cost recovery in fiscal year 1983 ($166,000,000). S. 1095, pending on the Senate Calendar, establishes a National Board on Water Policy to coordinate water resource policy and continues funding for water research. It would succeed the Water Resources Council and the Office of Water Research and Technology which the administration proposes to terminate.

3 Urgent supplemental appropriation pending in the House.

The committee was unable to reach agreement on any motions making a recommendation with respect to the Appalachian Regional Commission.

5 The administration proposes to appropriate $80,000,000 from the highway trust fund for Appalachian highways in fiscal year 1983.

To be appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of Commerce's general administration account to close out the responsibilities of the Economic Development Administration.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Section 301 (c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires every standing committee of the Senate to submit to the Budget Committee, by March 15, its views and estimates of the total amounts of new budget authority and resulting outlays for programs under the Committee's jurisdiction for the coming fiscal year.

During the discussion of the fiscal year 1983 budget, full consideration was given the President's budget request. The Committee recommends new budget authority of $8,176 million for fiscal year 1983 for all programs under its jurisdiction except highways, which has direct spending authority. This is 6 percent above the President's request. The Committee recommends increases in the following two general

areas.

(1) Dedicated funds:

(a) Federal-aid highways.-The President requested $8.1 billion in new budget authority and an obligation ceiling of $7.7 billion for the Federal-aid highway program.

The Committee recommends $8.6 billion in budget authority with an obligation limitation of $8.2 billion (excluding Emergency Relief). The budget authority recommended for fiscal year 1983 is the same level authorized in fiscal year 1982. The increase in obligation authority for fiscal year 1983 is $500 million over the President's request. The highway program is funded by highway user fees which can only be spent on the highway program, a factor taken into consideration during deliberations on this program by the Committee.

(b) Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund.-The Committee recommends a $20 million increase over the Administration-proposed $230 million. Revenues for the Fund are generated by industry-based fees and all monies raised can only be used for the Hazardous Substance Response program.

(2) Natural Resources and the Environment:

(a) Water Resources.-The President requested $2.7 billion for the Corps of Engineers with offsetting revenues of $519 million. The President's budget did not include $150 million for certain operation and maintenance projects, but indicated supplemental funds would be requested if user fee legislation is enacted.

The Committee recommends that the $150 million for operations and maintenance be reinstated as user fee legislation is now pending before the Senate. The Committee considers the $519 million in offsetting revenues to be unrealistic and chose instead to assume a 25 percent recovery, $166 million, for fiscal year 1983.

The President requested no funds for the Water Resources Council and the Office of Water Research and Technology. The Committee recommends $36.2 million to fund planning and research activities au