Rep. McBride Votes NO on House GOP Energy & Water Bill That Raises Costs for Delaware Families

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (DE-AL) voted NO on H.R. 4553, the Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, citing the bill's harmful impacts on Delaware families, rising energy costs, and the long-term strength of the U.S. economy.

"Delawareans are already feeling the pinch from rising utility bills, grocery prices, and housing costs," said Rep. McBride. "This bill will make it worse. I​​t slashes smart energy investments that lower costs for families and strengthens polluting industries at the expense of innovation, affordability, and our future. I cannot in good conscience support a bill that makes it harder for working people to make ends meet.

The legislation passed the House by a single vote, 214 to 213. It slashes more than $750 million from critical energy and water programs and revokes $5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Lawfunds dedicated to lowering energy costs and increasing domestic energy production. The legislation, H.R. 4553, now moves to the Senate for consideration.

"Energy is energy - and at a time when prices are rising, we need more tools to lower costs, not fewer," said Rep. McBride. "Instead, this bill picks winners and losers in the energy economy and raises costs for Delawareans."

The legislation includes severe cuts to the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs-nearly 50% below last year's levels-and fully eliminates funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which helps develop technologies that can lower energy bills for consumers.

Meanwhile, the bill redirects billions to subsidize nuclear demonstration projects andincludes divisive ideological policy riders that would:

• Undermine civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans;
• Block clean energy, cost-saving efforts in federal buildings;
• Allow guns on public lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers;
• Ban the Pride flag from flying on federal property;
• Halt diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across agencies.

"This bill reads more like a political stunt than a serious investment in infrastructure," McBride continued. "It punishes innovation, sidelines real solutions, and puts identity politics ahead of what families need most: lower costs, stable jobs, and energy they can afford."

Despite her opposition, McBride secured a bipartisan win in the bill: $50 million in federal funding to replace the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dredge Currituck-one of only two shallow-draft dredge vessels used for beach replenishment along the Atlantic Coast. McBride joined a bipartisan coalition, led by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), to secure this funding.

"The Dredge Currituck is a workhorse for our coastal communities, but it's outdated and constantly in repair," said McBride. "This investment is critical to protecting Delaware's beaches, tourism economy, and shoreline resilience-especially in Sussex County. I was proud to work across the aisle to help deliver this result."

Despite that success, McBride made clear that one good provision doesn't outweigh a bad bill. The legislation also:

• Slashes funding for nuclear cleanup and nonproliferation programs;
• Eliminates the Army Corps' radioactive waste cleanup initiative;
• Cuts investments in energy efficiency that help reduce household energy bills.

"This bill threatens Delaware jobs, raises energy costs, and sets us back in the fight for affordable power," said McBride. "I will keep fighting for policies that cut costs, protect our environment, and invest in the future Delawareans deserve."

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