The House has approved a fiscal 2010 spending bill that would give a modest boost to the Corps of Engineers' construction account, but would trim funding for the Dept. of Energy defense environmental cleanup program. The 2010 energy and water programs appropriations measure, which the House passed on July 17, includes $2.1 billion for Corps construction, up $2 million from 2009, excluding emergency spending. It also recommends $5.4 billion for DOE’s cleanup account, which is a 5% cut from this year’s level.

In the Senate, the energy-water bill that the Appropriations Committee approved on July 9 cuts the Corps construction program 10%, to $1.9 billion. But the Senate panel allotted $5.8 billion to DOE cleanup, a 2% hike over 2009.