Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill

Appropriations Bill MarkupsHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies · 2025-07-14 · 119th Congress
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies met to mark up its fiscal year 2026 funding bill, covering the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation. Begins at 0:14:56
Transcript
Highlights

Title

Subcommittee approves partisan FY2026 Energy and Water appropriations bill

Purpose

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies met to mark up its fiscal year 2026 funding bill, covering the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation. Republicans framed the $57.3 billion bill as advancing energy dominance and national security, while Democrats objected to cuts in renewable energy, water, and nonproliferation programs and to the process being partisan. The subcommittee ultimately voted 10–5 to send the bill to the full committee. Begins at0:14:56

Who spoke

Chairman David Joyce/Fleshman (R, subcommittee chair)0:14:56: Opened the markup, outlined the bill's $57.3 billion total (a $766 million decrease from FY25)0:15:22, $25.3 billion for NNSA0:15:46, $7.7 billion for DOE cleanup0:16:07, $9 billion for the Army Corps and $1.9 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation0:17:02, and noted a 25% cut to other DOE programs0:18:01; later moved procedural business and announced the final 10–5 vote0:52:04.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur/"Captor" (D-OH), Ranking Member0:19:24: Criticized the bill as a partisan return from prior bipartisan practice0:19:54, linked recent Texas and West Virginia flash floods to climate change0:20:230:21:24, said the bill cuts $1.6 billion (47%) from DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy programs0:23:20, revokes $5.1 billion in bipartisan infrastructure law funds0:25:43, cuts $412 million from nuclear non-proliferation0:26:59, and zeroes out Army Corps radioactive-site cleanup while cutting $779 million from DOE nuclear cleanup0:27:29.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), full committee Chairman0:28:58: Praised the bill as a "cornerstone of American energy dominance," citing investments in energy security, Army Corps waterways, and next-generation nuclear systems supporting submarines and aircraft carriers0:29:260:30:12.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), full committee Ranking Member0:30:35: Said the administration has frozen or stolen appropriated funds, cancelling over $3.7 billion in DOE manufacturing projects0:33:20; highlighted the frozen "Power Up New England" grid project worth nearly $400 million that would have powered two million homes and saved $1.5 billion/year0:34:240:34:53; said China leads the world in wind energy production0:35:52 and that the bill cuts nearly half the energy efficiency and renewable energy budget0:36:18.

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)0:38:43: Recounted the history of Mary McLeod Bethune's hospital in Daytona Beach as an infrastructure equity example0:39:120:40:27, and criticized bill provisions prohibiting funds for certain communities, citing water and sanitation gaps in his state0:42:05.

A California committee member (Rep. Levin)0:43:14: Said he could not support the bill due to zeroing out renewable energy programs0:43:39, underfunding of the grid deployment office amid AI-driven demand growth0:44:08, and a 75% cut to WaterSMART funding0:44:58; praised bipartisan progress on spent nuclear fuel and integrated waste management, citing DOE's $48.7 billion liability estimate0:45:51 and Secretary Wright's support for community opt-in siting0:46:18.

A committee member from Indiana's first district (Mr. Mrvan)0:47:13: Said the bill undercuts Army Corps Great Lakes harbor and clean water funding0:47:36 by eliminating the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, threatening the Midwest hydrogen hub and its projected 12,000 direct jobs0:48:05; noted BP, AMOCO/"Widing" paused the project in June0:49:00, and criticized a 17% cut to defense nuclear non-proliferation0:49:27.

Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX)0:49:57: Moved that the bill be favorably reported to the full committee0:49:57.

Key moments

Chairman Fleshman detailed the bill's top-line: $57.3 billion total, down $766 million from FY25, with $25.3 billion for NNSA and $8.4 billion for DOE Office of Science0:15:220:17:33.

Kaptur said the bill cuts $1.6 billion (47%) from DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and revokes $5.1 billion in bipartisan infrastructure law resources0:23:200:25:43.

DeLauro said the administration cancelled over $3.7 billion in DOE manufacturing projects and froze the "Power Up New England" grid initiative, which was expected to power about two million homes and cut energy costs by $1.5 billion a year0:33:200:34:53.

Kaptur and DeLauro both stated the bill cuts nuclear non-proliferation funding — by $412 million and 17% respectively — which they said undermines efforts to prevent nuclear weapons spread0:26:590:49:27.

Rep. Mrvan said the Midwest hydrogen hub, expected to generate 12,000 direct jobs in Northwest Indiana, was paused indefinitely by BP/AMOCO in June after DOE reportedly sought to kill the project and Congress rolled back the clean hydrogen tax credit0:48:050:48:31.

A California member cited DOE's estimate that the total taxpayer liability for existing nuclear waste is $48.7 billion, and noted Energy Secretary Wright's agreement that communities should be able to opt into hosting nuclear waste facilities0:45:510:46:18.

The subcommittee voted 10 ayes to 5 noes by roll call to favorably report the bill to the full committee0:52:04.

Kaptur linked recent flash floods in Texas (over 100 deaths, ~160 missing) and West Virginia (at least seven deaths) to climate change, citing "four 1,000-year floods" in a single week0:20:230:21:24.

A California member said the bill cuts WaterSMART funding by 75% and zeroes out Army Corps construction funding in California0:44:58.

Clyburn invoked the history of Mary McLeod Bethune's Daytona Beach hospital to argue against bill provisions restricting funds to certain communities0:39:120:41:13.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
Date2025-07-14
TypeMarkup
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript85 caption blocks · 5,503 words · 0:52:56 runtime
EventCongress.gov 118479