Despite massive pollution problems associated with the mining and use of coal, the Department of Energy has traditionally spent vast sums on research and development (R&D) for coal technologies. For Fiscal Year 1995, however, the Department of Energy (DOE) recommended reducing federal funding for coal R&D. But the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee rejected the recommendation; instead, it voted to increase funding for coal R&D -- while simultaneously cutting Clinton's budget request for energy efficiency programs.

When the Fiscal Year 1995 Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 4602) came before the full House, Reps. Scott Klug (R-WI), Gerald Kleczka (D-WI), and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered an amendment to reduce coal R&D funding to the amount originally requested by DOE. The amendment called for cutting $27 million from funds earmarked for coal R&D, returning the funding level to $128 million.

On June 23, 1994, the House rejected the Klug (et. al.) amendment by a vote of 182 - 242. YES is the pro-environment vote.