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Congress·Passed House·6 months ago

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

Also known as: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Legislative Progress

Filed
Review
House

214213

Senate
President

Impact Analysis

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

State Impacts

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

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.
  • 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.
  • It shifts several billions in previously approved energy funds into nuclear reactor projects, including small nuclear reactor deployment and demonstrations.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Energy EnvironmentInfrastructure TransportationNational Security Foreign PolicyEconomy Finance

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
0213 · 2
Republican
19522 · 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
0212 · 3
Republican
14373 · 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
0209 · 6
Republican
77138 · 6
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Rules Committee

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 211, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill is considered adopted.

140
286
Democrat
0208 · 7
Republican
14078 · 3
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Rules Committee

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 211, the amendment printed in report 119-15 is considered adopted.

120
306
Democrat
0210 · 5
Republican
12096 · 5
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Amendment is the reported version of the resolution, House Report 119-17 as reported by the Committee on House Administration.

124
303
Democrat
0211 · 4
Republican
12492 · 5
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 119-38 to include any special administrative region or other territory within one of the covered nations referenced in the bill within the bill's definition of "foreign country of concern.".

127
299
Democrat
0211 · 4
Republican
12788 · 6
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 3, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 119-38 to amend the definition of 'foreign entity of concern' to include Chinese military companies identified on the list required by section 1260H of the FY 2021 NDAA (colloquially referred to as the "Section 1260H list").

120
307
Democrat
0211 · 4
Republican
12096 · 5
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 4, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Amendment sought to amend section 117 to streamline foreign gift and contract reporting, align reporting with other federal research security compliance requirements, establish sanctions for noncompliance and require the Secretary of Education to conduct negotiated rulemaking to receive stakeholder feedback.

120
302
Democrat
0207 · 8
Republican
12095 · 6
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 4, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Amendment sought to amend the threshold value at which gifts must be reported from $50,000 to $1.

127
297
Democrat
0209 · 6
Republican
12788 · 6
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 4, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Amendment sought to amend the definition of "Foreign Country Of Concern".

76
351
Democrat
0210 · 5
Republican
76141 · 4
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentSep 4, 2025

On Motion to Recommit

209
218
Democrat
2090 · 3
Republican
0218 · 1
View full roll call
HousePassedPassageSep 4, 2025

On Passage

214
213
Democrat
0209 · 3
Republican
2144 · 1
View full roll call

Related News

6 articles

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. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.