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1 1 (October 12, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejbw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congr ssonaI Research Servk informing K egsaive deba e sne 1914 Updated October 12, 2022 Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 244 million acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse purposes, including livestock grazing, energy development, recreation, and conservation. The agency also administers onshore federal energy and mineral resources generally. Regular FY2023 appropriations were not enacted by the start of the fiscal year (October 1, 2022). BLM is receiving funding at FY2022 levels under a continuing resolution, in effect through December 16, 2022 (P.L. 117-180). For FY2023, President Biden requested $1,561.4 million for BLM-$150.4 million (11%) more than the FY2022 enacted level of $1,410.9 million (in P.L. 117-103, Division G). (This total and comparisons in this In Focus do not include FY2022 emergency supplemental appropriations of $1.2 million in P.L. 117-43 to address natural disasters.) On July 1, 2022, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 8262 (H.Rept. 117-400), with $1,545.9 million for BLM for FY2023. On July 20, 2022, the House passed H.R. 8294, an omnibus appropriations measure with the same amount (in Division E), which would be $135.0 million (10%) over the FY2022 enacted level. On July 28, 2022, the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair released a Senate Committee Majority Draft (SCMD) bill and draft explanatory statement with $1,536.4 million for BLM for FY2023. On the same day, S. 4686 was introduced, reflecting the SCMD text. (Hereinafter, this In Focus refers to S. 4686 as introduced.) This would be $125.5 million (9%) over the FY2022 enacted level and $9.5 million (<1%) less than the House-passed level. BLM discretionary appropriations are provided in Title I of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations laws. BLM also receives a portion of the appropriations to DOI for wildland fire management. For further information, see CRS In Focus IF12142, Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2023 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior. Mandatory (permanent) appropriations are provided to BLM under various statutes within the jurisdiction of authorizing committees. DOI estimated BLM mandatory appropriations at $599.2 million for FY2023. This total does not include $95.0 million for BLM deferred maintenance (DM, discussed below). For FY2023, issues for Congress include determining the amount of funding to provide BLM accounts and activities and the terms and conditions of such funding, as well as whether to enact related Biden Administration proposals. Discretionary Appropriations Accounts For each BLM discretionary funding account, Table 1 shows FY2022 enacted amounts and FY2023 amounts requested by the Biden Administration, passed by the House, and included in S. 4686 as introduced. Management of Lands and Resources (MLR). The largest account-MLR-funds diverse programs including rangelands, wild horses and burros, wildlife and aquatic habitat, recreation, energy and minerals, law enforcement, facility maintenance, and national conservation lands. This account also funds workforce and organizational support, including financial and information technology management. For FY2023, the Biden Administration, House, and S. 4686 supported varying increases over FY2022 for this account, of $139.0 million (11%), $127.2 million (10%), and $114.1 million (9%) respectively. The Biden Administration expressed that increases proposed for FY2023 were intended to support several goals. These goals include fostering conservation of 30% of the nation's lands and waters by 2030; addressing climate change, including through improvements in land health and resiliency and deployment of clean energy generation and transmission projects; and remediating and reclaiming abandoned wells and mine sites, to improve human health, safety, and the environment and to create jobs. (Fiscal Year 2023, The Interior Budget in Brief, p. BLM-1). The Administration's request, House-passed bill, and S. 4686 seek to increase funding (by differing amounts in some cases) for most programs, including management of wild horses and burros, wildlife and aquatic habitat, energy and minerals, recreation, resource management planning, abandoned mines and hazardous materials, and national conservation lands. A few areas are highlighted below. There are 82,384 wild horses and burros on BLM lands, more than triple the appropriate management level-the level that BLM determined the range can support-of 26,785. BLM manages an additional 58,517 animals off- range. For wild horse and burro management, the Administration requested $153.1 million, the House approved $156.1 million, and S. 4686 contained $156.6 million. The FY2022 enacted level was $137.1 million. Portions of the increases for FY2023 would be for administering fertility control, removing animals from the range, and caring for animals in long-term pasture facilities. For wildlife and aquatic habitat management, the Administration and S. 4686 supported $239.1 million, and the House approved $229.8 million. The FY2022 enacted amount was $197.7 million. Portions of the increases for FY2023 would be for addressing climate change, water

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