Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) commented on the committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The legislation emphasizes nuclear energy’s role in achieving U.S. energy dominance.
“The United States is at a critical point regarding the future of domestic energy production, and this legislation makes clear the prominent role nuclear energy and small modular reactors will play as we work to become truly energy dominant,” said Rep. Newhouse.
Newhouse also stated, “It also makes new investments into the Office of Science, which supports the mission at PNNL, and delivers the necessary resources to the Army Corps of Engineers to manage and maintain our critical hydroelectric dams. While there are further changes and funding increases that I would like to see in this legislation, specifically for Hanford and for PNNL, it serves as a strong starting point as we prepare to work with the Senate to support our nation’s energy needs.”
The bill allocates $57.300 billion in discretionary funds, $766.4 million less than the previous fiscal year. It divides into $33.223 billion for defense and $24.077 billion for non-defense.
Funding focuses on national security, American energy dominance, and economic competitiveness. It includes significant investments in mining technologies for critical minerals extraction, small modular reactor projects, port improvements, geothermal energy development, and electric grid cybersecurity.
In terms of national security, $20.662 billion is designated for nuclear weapons modernization; $2.171 billion supports the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet; $1.984 billion aims to prevent hostile entities from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Restrictions include prohibiting crude oil sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China’s Communist Party and access by Chinese or Russian citizens to U.S. nuclear facilities.
