Media

Good morning. I’d like to welcome everyone to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

The FY26 Energy and Water bill demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding U.S. national security, unleashing American energy dominance, and advancing our economic competitiveness—in a fiscally responsible manner. The recommendation totals $57.3 billion, a decrease of $766 million below fiscal year 2025. 

The bill delivers strong support for our national defense and provides $25.3 billion—an increase of $1.2 billion above FY25—for the National Nuclear Security Administration, prioritizing the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons stockpile and the U.S. Navy nuclear fleet.

Thank you, Chairman Womack, Ranking Members Clyburn and DeLauro, and subcommittee members.

Today’s Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development measure is about building stronger, traveling safer, and supporting American communities.

This bill responsibly and effectively funds critical transportation and housing needs while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

With targeted investments in surface infrastructure and a meaningful increase to Highway Trust Fund programs, everyone from the traveling public to freight haulers will benefit from more reliable systems and safer travel.

Enhanced resources for FAA facilities and equipment will modernize air traffic control, hire needed controllers, and accelerate the deployment of new technologies. The bill also advances innovation in aircraft certification, drone integration, and automated vehicle development.

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will come to order.

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Clyburn.

The bill we are considering today meets our Nation’s most critical transportation and housing needs while reducing excessive spending and regulatory burdens.

The discretionary allocation in the bill is $89.9 billion, $4.5 billion below the Fiscal Year 2025 level. This is a 5% reduction in spending, while cutting even deeper to accommodate $3.7 billion in member projects. When accounting for $1.5 billion in fewer housing receipts, actual spending is $6 billion below FY25.

We have carefully allocated resources to the most critical missions at DOT and HUD while implementing significant reforms.

Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member McGovern.

It is a pleasure to appear before the committee today in support of H.R. 4016, the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.  I know our time is relatively short, so I will try to be brief.

H.R. 4016 provides $831.5 billion for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.  While this is flat relative to discretionary funds enacted in fiscal year 2025, coupled with the recently enacted reconciliation act, it provides nearly $1 trillion to modernize and sustain our armed forces.