House Approves Energy and Water Bill in Closely Divided Vote

In a close vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 4553), with a final tally of 214–213. The legislation is intended to boost national security, fuel energy independence, and cut what supporters call wasteful spending.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Representative Dale Strong (R-AL5), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in favor of the bill. In a statement released Thursday, he said the legislation “puts America first by lowering energy costs for hardworking Americans, strengthening our national security, prioritizing energy independence, and investing in our water infrastructure — all while protecting taxpayer dollars by focusing on core priorities for the people, not fringe climate programs and wasteful Biden-era slush funds.”

If signed into law, the bill will allocate funds to several key agencies:

• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works
• Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation
• National Nuclear Security Administration
• Various independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Highlights of the FY 2026 Energy-Water Funding Bill

1. Strengthening National Defense and Security

• $20.7 billion to modernize the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and related infrastructure.
• Over $2 billion in support for the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet.
• A ban on selling crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
• Prohibitions on sourcing technology or telecom equipment from adversaries such as China.
• A clause blocking federal censorship efforts and eliminating funding for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) programs.

2. Restoring American Energy Strength & Growing the Economy

• One of the largest investments in years for critical mineral mining technologies, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
• Increased funding for small modular reactors, advanced reactor demonstrations, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission—aligning with the Trump administration’s goal of reaching 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050.
• Enhancements to ports and waterways to streamline the flow of goods and resources.

3. Eliminating Wasteful Spending

• Defunds the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
• Ends funding for the Office of Energy Justice and Equity.
• Redirects applied energy technology programs toward research and development that promises tangible returns for taxpayers.

This bill marks the third of the twelve annual appropriations bills to clear the House. With its razor-thin margin, the vote underscores deep divisions over energy and climate policy. Critics argue the bill undercuts clean energy priorities and downplays efforts to address rising electricity costs. The proposal now heads to the Senate, where unresolved disputes—particularly over spending levels—pose further hurdles.