27日美國眾議院通過對於環保、國家公園和保育地增加約12億美元經費補助的法案。白宮及保守黨領袖認為該法案的通過是不負責任地消耗國庫，但民主黨堅持這些經費的增加具重要性，因為能用以支持過去被布希政府忽視的政策。
眾議院以272票對155票通過總預算為276億美元的法案，補助對象包括美國內政部、環保署、林業服務中心、北美原住民健康服務等各機構。該法案超過2007年使用的相關經費4%，而且也比白宮提案預算多出大約9%。
然而參議院還沒有決定這個對於內政部和相關機構的預算法案。布希政府已經公開表示該法案編列預算過高，他們反對眾議院通過該法案，稱之為「不負責任」，並且恐嚇在接續審查過程中將投反對票。
白宮已表示他們強烈反對法案中列出的幾項條例，其中特別是針對石油公司，強制他們重擬在墨西哥灣的深水鑽井工程租約。
美國內政部礦務局在1998和1999年已經發放鑽井工程的租約執照給這些石油公司，但沒有明文規定當石油價格達到一桶34美元時，石油公司繳交專營權費的問題。當時柯林頓政府的疏漏已經讓美國失去收受將近10億美元的專營權費用，而在25年內更會損失超過100億美元。
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation to increase funding for environmental protection, national parks and conservation by some $1.2 billion. The White House and Republican leaders called the bill fiscally irresponsible, but Democrats insisted that the increases are critical to bolster programs that have been neglected by the Bush administration.
The $27.6 billion spending bill, which passed by a vote of 272-155, includes funding for the Interior Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service, Indian Health Service and other agencies. The bill is more than four percent above this year's appropriations and some nine percent above the White House request.
The Senate has yet to finalize its appropriations bill for the Interior Department and related agencies. The Bush administration is already on record as opposing the House bill, calling it "irresponsible" and threatening to veto the measure because of its price tag.
The White House also said it strongly objects to several provisions in the bill, in particular one that aims to force oil companies to renegotiate deep water drilling leases for the Gulf of Mexico already issued.
The leases were issued in 1998 and 1999 by the U.S. Interior Department's Mineral Management Service, which failed to include language triggering royalty payments once oil prices reached a threshold of about $34 a barrel. The error has already cost the government some $1 billion in lost royalties and could cost more than $10 billion over 25 years.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
