Rep. McClain Delaney Issues Statement on Remaining House Appropriations Bills for Fiscal Year 2026

WASHINGTON, DC-Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (D-MD) released a statement following the House of Representatives' votes on the remaining appropriations packages to fund federal government operations through September 30, 2026.

"In the disastrous first year of the Trump Administration, we saw a tsunami of deep cuts to federal programs and unlawful overreach that continues to harm Maryland families, businesses, and communities. From Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assaults that terrorize our neighbors, to reckless trade wars, to undermining our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and long-standing international alliances, this Administration and the Republican majority have failed to deliver on their core promise to make life more affordable and help working families make ends meet. Making matters worse, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has made things harder for families, farmers, and small businesses who've been forced to make difficult decisions in the face of skyrocketing costs of healthcare, food, housing, and energy.

"Through intensive bipartisan negotiations, House Democrats have fought back against this Administration's chaos and cruelty. My colleagues and I were able to prevent the inclusion of most of the Republicans' harmful cuts and policies while upholding Congress's power of the purse.

"I voted yes on the three-bill minibus that included appropriations bills for Defense; Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development to help Maryland's Sixth District, which:

• Fully funds the 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel;
• Increases funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to total $7.4 billion;
• Supports lifesaving biomedical research by providing an increase of more than $400 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including increases for research to develop cures or treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, ALS, diabetes, and a $30 million funding boost for the Office of Research on Women's Health;
• Maintains critical investments in public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as investments for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including an increase of $15 million for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and $20 million for State Opioid Response Grants;
• Maintains investments in K-12 schools to support educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds and higher education to help students pay for college;
• Helps hard-working families access child care and early childhood education by providing an increase of $170 million for Child Care and Head Start;
• Reinforces efforts to combat homelessness by increasing funding for Homeless Assistance Grants by $366 million and rejecting President Trump's efforts to eliminate Continuum of Care funding early; and
• Makes critical investments in our highways, roads, and bridges to improve transportation safety and keep construction workers on the job.

"However, I voted against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. Our country cannot continue to fund ICE as it terrorizes our communities through undue violence, and individual and constitutional violations to the Black, Brown, and AAPI communities. We all want our immigration laws to be enforced transparently, fairly, humanely, and consistent with our American values. Given ICE's lawless actions in Maryland, including plans for a detention facility in Hagerstown, I cannot stand for this.

"Further, I am disappointed that the bill excludes amendments offered by my Democratic colleagues, such as:

• Requiring ICE agents, like our law enforcement, to obtain judicial warrants before making arrests;
• Mandating the use of body-worn cameras during enforcement operations;
• Prohibiting masks or face coverings during routine enforcement;
• Establishing clear, enforceable use-of-force standards; and
• Explicitly banning the detention or deportation of U.S. citizens.

"The minibus was a product of bipartisan negotiations; however the Homeland Security bill falls far short of 'common sense, common ground' solutions that our constituents deserve. Republicans in Congress must recognize the harm this Administration is inflicting on our communities. We must show up, speak out, and stand in defense of our neighbors and love of country."

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For updates, follow Rep. McClain Delaney at @RepAprilDelaney.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney was elected in 2024 to serve Maryland's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. In Congress, McClain Delaney is focused on improving US competitiveness and innovation, protecting our natural environment and championing policies that represent the values and priorities of Maryland's 6th District.