Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 4553
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-09-10: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 156.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T16:28:21Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, H.R. 4553, appropriates funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior's water-related activities, the Department of Energy (DOE), and various independent agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2026 (ending September 30, 2026). It supports civil works, water resource management, energy research and development, nuclear activities, environmental cleanup, and regional development programs. The total funding advances infrastructure, flood control, renewable energy, and national security efforts while imposing restrictions on fund use.

Key Provisions

The bill is organized into five titles, allocating specific sums (with some adjustments via increases/reductions that net to zero in many cases) and including general provisions for oversight.

Title I: Corps of Engineers—Civil (Department of the Army)

Investigations: $200,000,000 for studies on rivers, harbors, flood control, shore protection, and ecosystem restoration; funds remain available until spent.
Construction: $2,555,000,000 for building authorized projects, including contributions from trust funds like the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund ($84,883,000) and Inland Waterways Trust Fund (25% of costs).
Mississippi River and Tributaries: $490,000,000 for flood damage reduction, with $6,705,000 from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
Operation and Maintenance: $6,140,000,000 for maintaining existing projects, security, and dredging; includes $3,381,412,000 from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and $62,000,000 for specific water resources activities. Allows 1% of funds for emergencies.
Regulatory Program: $221,000,000 for administering laws on navigable waters and wetlands (available until September 30, 2027).
Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies: $40,000,000 for disaster preparation and response.
Expenses: $226,000,000 for administration, including dredge replacement.
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works: $6,000,000, with 75% withheld until a required report and work plan are submitted.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program: $5,000,000 for loan program administration, plus fees collected.
General Provisions: Restrict reprogramming of funds (e.g., limits of 15-25% per project without congressional approval); prohibit certain studies (e.g., water reallocation at Wolf Creek Dam); allow firearm possession at projects if compliant with state law; ban use of funds for specific enforcement.

Title II: Department of the Interior

Central Utah Project Completion: $23,000,000 for authorized activities, including $4,000,000 to a mitigation account and $1,950,000 for administrative expenses.
Bureau of Reclamation:
Water and Related Resources: $1,710,630,000 for water management, facility operations, Native American responsibilities, and grants; includes transfers to basin funds.
Central Valley Project Restoration Fund: Funds collected for habitat restoration (no new appropriations specified).
California Bay-Delta Restoration: $32,000,000 for water supply and environmental improvements.
Policy and Administration: $64,000,000 from the Reclamation Fund for operations.
General Provisions: Limit reprogramming (e.g., 15% cap without approval); require quarterly reports; amend laws to extend authorizations (e.g., Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to 2027) and increase funding caps (e.g., desalination to $106,500,000); update drought relief funding to $130,000,000.

Title III: Department of Energy

Energy Programs:
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: $1,830,000,000 for efficiency and renewables.
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response: $200,000,000.
Electricity: $225,000,000.
Grid Deployment: $25,000,000.
Nuclear Energy: $1,795,000,000.
Fossil Energy: $687,500,000.
Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves: $13,000,000.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve: $294,628,000 for operations; $100,000 for petroleum account.
Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve: $7,150,000.
Energy Information Administration: $135,000,000.
Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup: $337,700,000, plus fees for mercury storage.
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination Fund: $844,380,000 from the fund.
Science: $8,400,000,000.
Nuclear Waste Disposal: $12,040,000 from the Nuclear Waste Fund.
Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy: $350,000,000.
Loan and Guarantee Programs:
Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee: $35,000,000 administrative; $150,000,000 for nuclear reactor guarantees; fees offset costs.
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing: $13,000,000 administrative.
Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee: $6,300,000 administrative.
Indian Energy Policy and Programs: $75,000,000.
Departmental Administration: $304,653,000 (net after reductions), offset by revenues.
Office of the Inspector General: $90,000,000.
Atomic Energy Defense Activities (National Nuclear Security Administration):
Weapons Activities: $20,661,993,000.
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation: $1,993,060,000 (rescinds $9,422,000 prior funds).
Naval Reactors: $2,171,023,000, with transfer for reactor testing.
Federal Salaries and Expenses: $500,000,000.
Environmental and Other Defense Activities:
Defense Environmental Cleanup: $6,521,396,000.
Other Defense Activities: $1,179,950,000.
Power Marketing Administrations: Funding for Bonneville, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western (e.g., $311,035,000 for Western, mostly offset by collections); Falcon and Amistad Fund: $6,510,000.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: $520,000,000 (offset by fees).
General Provisions: Notification requirements for awards over $1,000,000; reprogramming limits (e.g., 10% or $5,000,000); prohibit new reserves without approval; ban sales to certain entities; transfer unobligated funds for nuclear projects; restrict procurement from Chinese-owned entities.

Title IV: Independent Agencies

Appalachian Regional Commission: $162,535,255 for development programs.
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: $45,000,000.
Delta Regional Authority: $25,274,232.
Denali Commission: $13,815,497 for Alaska projects (up to 80% federal share for distressed areas).
Northern Border, Southeast Crescent, Southwest Border, and Great Lakes Regional Commissions: $33,319,727; $16,253,526; $4,063,381; $4,063,381 respectively.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: $952,700,000 salaries/expenses (offset by fees); $18,795,000 for Inspector General.
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board: $4,000,000 from Nuclear Waste Fund.
General Provisions: Reprogramming limits; monthly reporting.

Title V: General Provisions

Prohibit influencing Congress (except basic communication); limit transfers; block pornography on networks; require state/local consent for nuclear fuel storage; ban diversity/equity/inclusion or Critical Race Theory programs; protect religious beliefs on marriage; prohibit COVID-19 mandates; restrict flags and rules; ban censorship partnerships; amend recreation fee laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Extends authorizations (e.g., Water Infrastructure Improvements to 2027; CALFED Bay-Delta to 2026).
Increases funding caps (e.g., desalination to $106,500,000; drought relief to $130,000,000; Northwestern New Mexico water projects to $1,815,000,000).
Rescinds $9,422,000 from prior nonproliferation funds.
Transfers ~$5.1 billion in unobligated Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to nuclear energy for small modular reactors.
Prohibits enforcement of certain rules (e.g., clean energy for federal buildings; Section 370 of Public Law 116-283 for civil works).
Amends recreation fees to allow collection at any site within a project.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Provides operational funding for infrastructure maintenance, research, and cleanup, enabling Corps of Engineers and Reclamation to manage floods, water supply, and ecosystems; DOE advances energy security and nuclear programs, potentially reducing emergency response gaps but constraining new initiatives via reprogramming limits.
Citizens: Supports flood protection, affordable energy, and regional development, benefiting communities in flood-prone or energy-dependent areas; loan guarantees could lower costs for advanced vehicles and nuclear power, but restrictions (e.g., on petroleum sales) may affect fuel prices.
International Relations: Enhances U.S. energy independence via reserves and nonproliferation; bans on Chinese entities in procurement and nuclear access could strain trade ties but bolster security.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, DOE (including National Nuclear Security Administration), Power Marketing Administrations, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
State/Local Governments and Tribes: Benefit from water projects, grants, and regional commissions; required for consents in nuclear storage.
Industry and Private Sector: Energy firms (renewables, nuclear, fossil), manufacturers (via loans), and contractors for construction/cleanup.
Citizens and Communities: Residents in Appalachia, Delta regions, Alaska, borders, and Great Lakes; users of waterways, energy, and recreation sites.
Environmental and Advocacy Groups: Impacted by restoration funds and regulatory enforcement limits.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens congressional oversight via reprogramming/transfer restrictions and reporting; aligns with existing laws (e.g., Energy Policy Act) while prohibiting certain actions (e.g., firearm bans at projects, DEI programs), potentially facing challenges under First Amendment or equal protection if viewed as viewpoint discrimination.
Constitutional: Appropriations power exercised per Article I; provisions protecting religious beliefs invoke Free Exercise Clause; no direct international treaty conflicts noted.
Political: Reflects priorities like nuclear advancement and restrictions on foreign influence/DEI, signaling partisan divides; rescissions and transfers from prior laws (e.g., Infrastructure Act) could spark debates on fiscal reallocation without new authorizations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Recent Actions

2025-09-10: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 156.
2025-09-09: Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
2025-09-08: Received in the Senate.
2025-09-04: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-09-04: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 213 (Roll no. 239). (Roll call 239)
2025-09-04: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 213 (Roll no. 239). (Roll call 239)
2025-09-04: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 218 (Roll no. 238). (Roll call 238)
2025-09-04: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
2025-09-04: Ms. Budzinski moved to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR H3841)
2025-09-04: The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
2025-09-04: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2025-09-04: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4553.
2025-09-04: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Schweikert amendment No. 33, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Schweikert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2025-09-04: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 672, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schweikert amendment No. 33.
2025-09-04: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Perry amendment No. 32, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Perry demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

Bill Versions

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (76 pages)
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (76 pages)
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-07-21 — PDF (76 pages)