House panel OKs bill renaming Kennedy Center opera house after Melania Trump
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
House appropriators on Tuesday advanced a spending bill that includes sweeping reductions in environmental priorities — and would put First Lady Melania Trump's name on a Kennedy Center opera house.
Why it matters: The Appropriations Committee's 33-28 party-line vote on the Interior-EPA spending bill would largely codify the Trump administration's deep cuts to the EPA and Interior Department's efforts to reduce climate emissions.
The big picture: The bill proposes a 23% cut to the EPA and would block Biden-era regulations such as EPA's rules to reduce auto, power plant, ozone, and methane emissions.
- The bill would fund Interior at $14.8 billion, $61 million below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level and $1.9 billion above what Trump requested.
- It would ensure ancillary mining activities can be approved on federal lands, a long-sought goal after the 2022 Rosemont decision limited some of those approvals.
- And it would require Interior to conduct onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales and prohibit use of the "social cost of carbon" metric used to assess climate change's societal costs.
Zoom in: The committee batted down a slew Democratic amendments over a markup that stretched five hours.
- It adopted language from Rep. Mike Simpson to emphasize "all-of-the-above energy" — a phrase that the administration has avoided as it seeks to block wind and solar energy projects.
- "The committee recognizes that in order to increase energy production to avoid blackouts, an all-of-the-above energy policy will be necessary to promote grid reliability and security," said the manager's amendment, adopted by voice vote.
The committee also approved a Simpson amendment to name the opera house at the Kennedy Center after Melania Trump. Her husband became the D.C. entertainment complex's board chairman after taking office.
- "Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts," Simpson said in a statement.
The other side: Democrats slammed the bill, predicting it will raise energy prices, worsen climate pollution, and create funding shortfalls at states for water infrastructure.
- The measure "is nothing more than a hollow attempt at governance," said Rep. Chellie Pingree, the Interior-EPA panel's top Democrat.
What's next: The bill heads to the House floor as the broader appropriations process faces a Sept. 30 deadline.
