Summary of H.R. 6147
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

This bill is a detailed government funding law covering the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. Its main purpose is to allocate budget as appropriations (planned spending) to the Department of the Interior, various environmental programs, and related government agencies.

In Simple Terms:

This law authorizes and guides how the government will spend billions of dollars on things like:

• Managing and protecting public lands: The Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies receive money to care for lands, oceans, wildlife habitats, historic places, and more.
• Environmental protection: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gets funds for scientific research, cleaning up pollution, overseeing air and water quality, and supporting states and tribes in environmental programs.
• Native American programs: The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service get money for education, health services, housing, land claims, and related efforts for Indigenous peoples.
• Wildland fire management: A large portion is dedicated to fighting wildfires, doing preventative work, and rehabilitating lands affected by fires nationwide.
• Scientific research and surveys: The U.S. Geological Survey and other science-focused agencies receive funding to study natural resources, map lands, and monitor changes in the environment.
• Energy and mineral management: Agencies that oversee offshore oil and gas drilling and mining get funds to regulate activities, ensure safety, and collect revenues.
• Administration and oversight: Money is allocated for the general management of these agencies, including operations, information technology, and inspections to prevent fraud or mismanagement.

Additional Important Features:

• Wild horses and burros: The bill details how the government manages and contracts for care of wild horses, with specific restrictions to prevent inhumane actions.
• Species protection: It includes provisions on endangered species, such as gray wolves and sage-grouse, including some restrictions on new rules or protections.
• Funding restrictions: The law bar some funds from being used for certain controversial actions, such as banning lead ammunition, limiting hunting or recreational shooting on federal lands in places where it used to be allowed, or regulating greenhouse gas emissions in certain ways.
• Historic Preservation: Funding for preserving historic sites and culturally significant locations is included.
• Agency reorganizations and operations: The bill provides agencies flexibility to manage funds, procure services, and cooperate with states or nonprofits but requires congressional oversight for significant changes.

Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (Division B)

This part of the bill provides funding for the Department of the Treasury and other government-wide offices, including:

• Operating expenses for Treasury and related offices like the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
• Funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to process tax returns, enforce tax law, provide taxpayer assistance, and modernize IT systems.
• Funding for the Executive Office of the President, including the White House, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
• Funds for the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, federal courts, and defender services.
• Support to the District of Columbia for courts, public defenders, and local programs.
• Funding for independent agencies such as the Federal Election Commission, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and others.

Financial Reform Provisions (Division B, Titles IX–XI)

The bill contains several important reforms and new laws related to:

• Small business and startup investment: Definitions and clarifications to help angel investor groups and small businesses raise capital.
• Credit reporting improvements: Allowing positive credit reporting for utility and lease payments.
• Securities regulation updates: Making merger and acquisition brokers exempt from certain registration requirements and clarifying rules on confidential SEC submissions and mass-marketing of draft registrations.
• Mortgage lending: Amending definitions of points and fees and adjusting mortgage disclosure requirements.
• Financial stability improvements: Reforms to the Financial Stability Oversight Council, tailored prudential standards for institutions, new office for independent examination review, and rights for financial institutions to appeal supervisory decisions.
• Volcker Rule improvements: Streamlining rulemaking authority and excluding smaller banks from certain requirements.
• Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) Inspector General reforms: Changing appointment procedures and oversight of the Inspector General.
• Email privacy: Updated rules on government access to electronic communications and data storage, requiring warrants and specifying notice rules.
• Amateur Radio Parity Act: Protecting amateur radio operators from unreasonable private land use restrictions while respecting community aesthetics.

General Provisions

The bill includes various government-wide rules about spending, transparency, acquisition policies, employee conduct, and prohibitions on certain uses of funds (e.g., no funds for abortions except in specific cases, no funds for illegal use of controlled substances, etc.). It also stresses the importance of oversight, reporting to Congress, and cooperation between agencies.

In short: This bill provides the federal government’s budget blueprint for protecting public lands and wildlife, ensuring environmental protection, funding Native American programs, maintaining government operations, and implementing new financial system rules to promote growth, stability, and consumer protections. It sets spending limits, oversight requirements, and policy guardrails for key areas.