S. Con. Res. 57, the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution, made significant cuts to President Clinton's proposed six-year budget for environmental programs, putting at risk essential environmental and conservation programs administered by the Department of the Interior, Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other agencies.

Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) offered an amendment to add back $7.3 billion to the six-year budgets for EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Park Service, restoring funding levels contained in President Clinton's fiscal year 1997 budget proposal.

On May 22, 1996, Sen. Pete Domenici's (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Kerry amendment was agreed to, 55 - 45. NO is the pro-environment vote.