Greenville Reporter

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued a statement following his vote in favor of H.R. 8998, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2025.

"Today, I proudly supported the passage of the Interior and Environment appropriations package put forward by House Republicans," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "This legislation protects public access to lands for recreational use, eliminates burdensome regulations, protects American jobs, expands utilization of our natural resources, and cuts down wasteful spending. For the past 3.5 years, the Biden-Harris Administration has undermined the use of domestic lands and resources to appease liberal special interests."

Murphy highlighted that Eastern North Carolina would benefit from responsible funding allocations for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. He expressed gratitude to Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Simpson for his work on the bill and for including Murphy's funding requests aimed at protecting local ecosystems and assisting individuals facing hardships with National Park Service leases.

The bill directs the National Park Service (NPS) to provide a briefing on existing leaseholders' status in financially struggling coastal regions and outlines authorities for issuing and extending lease terms. It allocates $49 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and $3.12 billion to the National Park Service, including $2.71 billion specifically for operating expenses.

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025 aims to promote U.S. energy independence while limiting regulatory measures from the Biden-Harris Administration. It also seeks to protect public land access and reduce unnecessary spending.