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HR 9171

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Simpson

The bill provides FY2027 funding to Interior and related agencies to support conservation, land management, tribal programs, wildlife protection, and energy/ocean activities across

The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-687, by Mr. Simpson.
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Bill Summary · HR 9171

Overview

  • Bill: HR 9171
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Title: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027
  • Purpose: An annual appropriations bill funding the Department of the Interior, the Environmental programs, and related agencies for fiscal year 2027 (ending September 30, 2027) and related purposes.

Main purpose and intent

  • Provide specific funding authorizations for Interior Department agencies and programs for FY2027.
  • Establish the total appropriations by account and project areas within the Department of the Interior and related agencies, subject to reductions as collections and offsetting receipts are realized.
  • Support conservation, tribal programs, wildlife and habitat protection, land management, energy and mineral activities on public lands, and insular/territorial assistance.

Key provisions and changes

  • Department-wide funding allocations (selected highlights):

    • Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Management of lands and resources; funds for maintenance, wild horse and burro program; authority to use certain fee accounts for oil/gas permit processing; mining law administration funds; communication site rentals.
    • Oregon and California Grant Lands: $104.954 million for management and related activities.
    • Range Improvements: Funding for rehabilitation and improvements on Federal rangelands; minimum floor of $10 million; funds available until expended; minor administrative cap.
    • Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures: Funds to process land use authorizations and related activities; authority to use such funds for various land management needs.
    • Multinational and wildlife conservation programs: Funding for cooperative and international wildlife conservation efforts; specific funds for North American Wetlands, Neotropical migratory birds, African elephant, Asian elephant, rhinoceros and tiger conservation, Great Ape conservation, marine turtle conservation, etc.
    • National Wildlife Refuge Fund, National Park Service (NPS), and related accounts: Funding for operation and maintenance of parks, recreation and preservation programs, historic preservation activities (Historic Preservation Fund), construction, Centennial Challenge, and related administrative provisions.
    • US Geological Survey (USGS): Surveys, investigations, research; topographic map production; deferred maintenance and capital improvement funding; partnerships with states and Tribes allowed; flexible contracting authority.
    • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE): Leasing, permitting, and regulatory work on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); funds for offshore energy activities and inspections; crediting adjustments for lease receipts and cost recovery fees; additional inspection fees directed toward capacity expansion of OCS development.
    • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE): Regulation and technology for surface mining; state/tribal grants; reclamation funding; Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. Additional payments to states and Tribes for reclamation in Appalachia; schedule to distribute payments within 90 days after enactment; penalties for delayed payments.
    • Indian Affairs (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, etc.): Substantial funding for the operation of Indian programs; Trump of tribal priority allocations; trust funds administration; contract support costs; Indian education programs; construction for Indian education facilities; explicit prohibition on Alaska public school expansion using Bureau funds; emphasis on trust reform and tribal self-determination.
    • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act-related authorities: Contracting and grants with Tribes and Tribal organizations; trust fund administration funding and related protections for account holders; limited transparency provisions toward inactive accounts.
    • Wildland Fire Management and Firefighting: Funding for wildland fire operations, fuels management, burned area rehabilitation; wildfire suppression reserve fund; authority to transfer funds between Interior and Agriculture for wildfire management, with conditions; 30-day obligation reporting trigger for transfers.
    • Insular Areas and Compact of Free Association: Funding for territories (American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, FSM); Insular Affairs office funding; territory-discretionary technical and disaster assistance; audit provisions for territorial funds.
    • Departmental Offices: Secretary’s operations and departmental program management; funding for Indian land valuation activities; potential transfers to BIA/BIE/Federal Trust Programs; trust reform and IT/space expansion considerations.
    • Administrative Provisions: Various bullet points governing transfer authority, use of fees, matching requirements, procurement flexibility, and reporting/consultation with Appropriations Committees. In several places, authorizes use of non-Federal matching funds, cooperative agreements, and donations for project cost-sharing.

  • Administrative and reporting features:

    • Provisions for using donations, park donations, and user fees to support program costs where specified.
    • Flexibilities for interagency transfers and cross-program funding within the Interior and related agencies.
    • Reprogramming thresholds and congressional notification requirements for major construction and program shifts.
    • Sunset-like provisions where funds remain available through a specified date (e.g., until expended or until September 30, 2028 for many accounts).

Who or what would be affected

  • Federal agencies within the Department of the Interior and related agencies:
    • BLM, USGS, BOEM, BSEE, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Office of Surface Mining, Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR) provisions, among others.
  • Tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal priority allocations for Indian programs.
  • Insular areas: American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau funding arrangements.
  • States and local governments through Wildlife Grants, land and water conservation programs, and related cooperative funding.
  • Private and non-profit partners through cost-sharing arrangements, cooperative agreements, and grants tied to conservation, land management, and restoration initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • FY2027 funding requested for the Department of the Interior and related agencies, with appropriations anticpated to be available through September 30, 2028 in many accounts (availability until expended for several programs).
  • Provisions for transferability and reprogramming require notice to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees when moving funds between programs or units, especially for construction and large initiatives.
  • Various programmatic off-ramps and conditions (e.g., matching requirements, caps on Federal share for grants, and time-bound distributions to states/Territories) to govern how funds are obligated and spent.
  • Several sections authorize reductions in final appropriations equal to collections from fees, cost recoveries, or other offsetting receipts during the fiscal year.
  • Contains explicit language enabling certain administrative actions (e.g., use of non-Federal matching funds, cooperative agreements, and authority to purchase aircraft via donated replacements) to support operations.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a more concise, skimmable fact sheet or pull out sections by agency with their specific 2027 dollar amounts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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