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WASHINGTON – President Biden recently for fiscal year 2023. While the president’s budget is only a request to Congress, it informs Congress in the drafting of annual spending bills. 

This year’s proposed budget includes investments for clean energy research, a civilian conservation corps, and equity initiatives to help disadvantaged communities. It would increase budgets across major environmental agencies, including the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  

In the Great Lakes region, there is some disappointment with the level of proposed funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program that serves to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. You can  

The president’s proposed budget would add an additional $407 million to Everglades restoration. With funding already provided by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the world’s largest ecosystem restoration project could receive a total of nearly $1.5 billion over the next year. 

As Congress considers the FY23 budget proposal from President Biden, Լ����Ƶ urges increased investment for federal agencies and programs that will reduce carbon emissions, conserve our lands and waters, and restore bird populations. 

Last month, Լ����Ƶ’s Justin Stokes had the opportunity to submit testimony as a part of the Congressional appropriations process for fiscal year 2023. In his testimony he said:  

“More than ever before, Americans across the country and members of Congress across both aisles agree that climate change poses a serious threat to our health and safety. But recognizing the threat is not enough. Congress must take immediate and concrete steps to address the causes and impacts of climate change, which are being felt across the country, including disastrous wildfire and drought seasons in the West, increasing numbers and severity of storm events, and relentless sea-level rise affecting coastal communities. These climate threats are disproportionately impacting marginalized and historically underserved areas and communities of color, which further exacerbates economic inequalities.” 

Since 1970, we have lost 3 billion of America’s birds and two-thirds of our remaining birds are now at risk of extinction due to climate change. Լ����Ƶ’s 2019 Survival by Degrees report found that if we take action now, we can help improve the chances for 76% of species at risk.  

Լ����Ƶ policy staff is continuing to analyze the President’s proposed budget and is actively working with Congress as it begins to hold hearings on FY23 appropriations. In the coming weeks, Լ����Ƶ will share its annual list of budget priorities aimed at helping birds, people, and the places we need.

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Media Contact: Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org 

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