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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 4553

House Passes 2026 Energy and Water Bill With $20.7B for Nuclear Weapons, DEI Funding Ban

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

6 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Congress Secures 2026 Funding for Water, Energy, and Nuclear Defense
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

214–213

Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill sets the federal budget for big water projects like dredging ports, reducing flood risk, and maintaining dams, with billions for the Army Corps of Engineers.

    From policy text

    “The following appropriations shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Army and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers for authorized civil functions of the Department of the Army pertaining to river and harbor, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related efforts.”
    View in full text
  • It funds major Department of Energy work, including $8.4 billion for science labs and research and about $20.7 billion for nuclear weapons work, plus money for nuclear cleanup.

    From policy text

    “For Department of Energy expenses, including the purchase, construction, and acquisition of plant and capital equipment and other incidental expenses necessary for atomic energy defense weapons activities in carrying out the purposes of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), including the acquisition or condemnation of any real property or any facility or for plant or facility acquisition, construction, or expansion, $20,661,993,000”
    View in full text
  • It shifts several billions in previously approved energy funds into nuclear reactor projects, including small nuclear reactor deployment and demonstrations.

    From policy text

    “Of the unobligated balances from amounts previously made available to the Department of Energy in division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), the following funds shall be transferred from the following programs in the specified amounts to ``Department of Energy--Energy Programs--Nuclear Energy'', and, in addition to amounts otherwise made available, shall be available for the not more than two competitive awards for Generation 3+ small modular reactor deployment projects”
    View in full text
  • It blocks some federal actions, like enforcing a 2024 rule on “clean energy” for new federal buildings, and bans using these funds for diversity and inclusion programs.

    From policy text

    “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, training, programs, offices, officers, policies, or other executive agency functions, or to carry out any program, project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race Theory or any concept associated with Critical Race Theory.”
    View in full text
  • It adds policy riders that could affect daily life at federal water sites and beyond, like allowing legal gun possession at many Corps recreation areas and banning federal mask or vaccine mandates.

    From policy text

    “the Secretary of the Army shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, at a water resources development project covered under section 327.0 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)”
    View in full text
Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure TransportationNational Security Foreign PolicyEconomy Finance

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

52 actions
Sep 10, 2025Senate

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 156.

Sep 9, 2025Senate

Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

Sep 8, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate.

Sep 4, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 4, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 213 (Roll no. 239).

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Billions in infrastructure funds redirected to nuclear reactor projects

Section 313 transfers over $5.1 billion from previously approved clean energy and carbon programs to nuclear energy, specifically for small modular reactors and advanced reactor demonstrations. Communities expecting clean energy or carbon capture investments could lose that funding.

short_term

Senate consideration of the bill

The bill passed the House by just one vote (214-213) and is now on the Senate calendar. The Senate will likely make significant changes or use it as a starting point for negotiations, meaning the final version could look very different.

Vote Results

13 votes
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Rules Committee

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 93, the amendment printed in part A of House Report 119-2 is considered as adopted.

195
235
Democrat
0 – 213 · 2
Republican
195 – 22 · 4
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 119-2 to delay the enactment of this bill until the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General each certify that the bill will lead to a reduction in overdose deaths.

143
285
Democrat
0 – 212 · 3
Republican
143 – 73 · 5
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Rules Committee

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 161, the amendment printed in House Report 119-5 is considered adopted.

77
347
Democrat
0 – 209 · 6
Republican
77 – 138 · 6
View full roll call

Related Bills

3 bills
H.Res. 672Related bill

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4553) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 104) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment''; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 105) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan''; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 106) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''Central Yukon Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan''; and for other purposes.

Sep 3 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S. 3293Related bill

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Dec 1 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

H.R. 6938Related bill

Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026

Jan 23 — Became Public Law No: 119-74.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill NumberHR 4553
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionRead the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 156.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.