EPA, Interior to See Stimulus Windfall for Coronavirus Fight

The Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department and Energy Department are poised to get millions of dollars to combat new coronavirus impacts under a stimulus package agreement coming up in the Senate.

• Interior would reap $735.4 million in new funding including $158.4 million for equipment and supplies for cleaning buildings, support for law enforcement, and telework, according to a summary by Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans.
• Energy officials would get $127.5 million, the bulk of which—$99.5 million—would support preparing for and responding to coronavirus threats faced by its scientists at facilities under the Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
• The EPA would receive an extra $7.2 million to combat or conduct research on coronavirus, including “expediting registrations and other actions” on products to fight the pandemic.