Appropriations Committee Approves Chairman Fleischmann’s FY26 Energy and Water Bill

Washington, DC - The House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, led by Energy and Water Appropriations Chairman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03). The bill was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 27. Approval of Rep. Fleischmann's FY26 Energy and Water Appropriations bill by the Appropriations Committee is a key step before the bill can be brought to the House Floor for a vote.

Energy and Water Chairman Chuck Fleischmann said, "To achieve America's new Golden Age, we must safeguard our national security, unleash American energy dominance, and increase economic prosperity for all our citizens. I am proud that, in tight fiscal times where every dollar spent must be scrutinized, the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill makes historic investments in our national security and nuclear deterrent, advances American leadership in deploying new nuclear technologies, provides robust funding for waterways infrastructure projects nationwide, reduces our reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, unleashes American energy production, and stops wasteful, inflationary spending. This bill is the product of close collaboration with the Trump Administration and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, and I thank them for their strong support."

House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04) said, "This FY26 Energy and Water bill is focused on lowering energy costs and advancing affordable, reliable, and secure power for the nation. It recognizes that American energy dominance is essential to our economic strength, national security, and global leadership-fueling jobs, innovation, and resilience across every community. Further, we make clear to our adversaries that America will lead with strength built on domestic energy and critical mineral production. We also prioritize essential waterway, flood control, and ports and harbors projects. Chairman Fleischmann's approach ensures a stronger future reinforced through cutting-edge technology, strategic use of abundant resources, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and I commend its full committee approval."

Energy and Water Subcommittee Chairman Fleischmann's opening remarks are available here.
Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $57.300 billion, which is $766.4 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The defense portion of the allocation is $33.223 billion, and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $24.077 billion.

The bill prioritizes funding for agencies and programs that safeguard U.S. national security, unleash American energy dominance, and advance economic competitiveness.

Key Takeaways

Champions America's nuclear deterrent and strengthens national security by:

• Providing $20.662 billion for the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure.
• Providing $2.171 billion to support the U.S. Navy's nuclear fleet by investing in infrastructure and new technologies to maintain America's advantage over our adversaries.
• Providing $1.984 billion to reduce the danger of hostile nations or terrorist groups acquiring nuclear weapons.
• Prohibiting the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
• Prohibiting access to U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities by citizens of China and Russia.
• Prohibiting the Department of Energy from providing financial assistance to any foreign entity of concern.
• Prohibiting the purchase of technology and telecommunications equipment from China and other adversaries.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:

• Codifying President Trump's executive actions by prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory programs and ending federal censorship of free speech.
• Continuing the prohibition on funding for any discriminatory action against individuals advocating for traditional marriage.
• Allowing for the lawful carry of firearms on Corps of Engineers land.

Restores American energy dominance and bolsters the national economy by:

• Supporting one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades, reducing reliance on foreign sources.
• Robustly funding small modular reactor and advanced reactor demonstration projects, as well as increasing funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand capacity for the review, licensing, and oversight of new nuclear reactors.
  • These investments are key to regaining international dominance in the nuclear market and achieving the Trump Administration's goal to expand nuclear energy capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
• Facilitating the efficient transport of goods and commodities through improvements and maintenance of America's ports and waterways.
• Increasing investments to develop new baseload geothermal energy sources to capitalize on our vast domestic resources.
• Maintaining funding for cybersecurity efforts that enable a resilient, reliable, and secure electric grid.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

• Eliminating the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
• Including no funds for the Department of Energy Office of Energy Justice and Equity.
• Refocusing applied energy technology program funding to ensure taxpayer resources are directed to the highest priority research and development efforts.
• Reducing global dependency on the U.S. for foreign nuclear reactor conversions.

During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:

• Restricted the implementation of the America First agenda.
• Repealed reconciliation efforts that reformed green new scam climate initiatives.
• Sought to hamper enforcement efforts at Alligator Alcatraz.
• Promoted and advanced critical race theory.
• Allowed unapproved flags to be flown over federal facilities.
• Funded polarizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Exposed Americans to religious discrimination.
• Prohibited the implementation of certain President Trump executive orders.
• Increased taxpayer spending to unnecessary levels for certain programs.

Adopted Amendments

• Fleischmann #1 (Manager's Amendment) - Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Clyde #1 - Addresses the collection and utilization of recreation fees.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Moore #2 - Increases funding for Regional Commissions.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.

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