House of Representatives, Senate restores funds for Glen Canyon, Grand Canyon research

The decision reverses an earlier decision to defund the projects.

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Last week the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill which will restore $23 million in federal monies to continue research and monitoring projects inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park.


The Office of Management and Budget previously cut $23 million from the Basin Fund, which included research and monitoring projects in Glen and Grand Canyons. It was set to go in effect Oct. 1.


The new bill is titled Energy and Water, Legislative Branch and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2019 and the budget for the river projects is included in it.


News of the bill came as good news to researchers, many of whom live in Flagstaff, who were concerned about losing their jobs, as well as years of research left unfinished.
According to Marlon Duke, spokesperson for the Bureau of Reclamation, the bureau is happy that they aren’t going to face the previous funding changes.


“We were pleased to see the language that came out of the appropriations committee this week in the conference bill and we’re optimistic to that passing the house and the Senate and being enacted,” said Duke. “The amount of funding in there is everything we need to keep these programs going so that was good news.”


Congressman Tom O'Halleran sent a letter to the head of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water speaking out against the initial budget cuts.


“I am pleased to see funding included in today’s appropriations bill to protect projects that preserve the water, land, and wildlife near the Grand Canyon and serve communities across Arizona," O'Halleran said in a press release.


The bill is now waiting for President Donald Trump's approval.