Fleischmann Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8997, The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025

I am pleased to bring the Fiscal Year 2025 Energy and Water bill to the floor today.

The bill provides a total of $59.2 billion to advance our commitment to national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness.

The bill delivers strong support for our national defense and provides $25.5 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration. The bill prioritizes nuclear weapons activities, fully funding all major stockpile modernization activities and providing additional funds for plutonium pit production and the nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile.

At the Department of Energy, the bill supports programs that advance our nation’s energy security and ensure America remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation.

This includes strong funding for:

• Nuclear Energy, including additional funds specifically for nuclear demonstration projects;
• the Office of Science, including fusion energy sciences; and
• the full spectrum of mining production technologies to reduce our reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.

The bill also includes a number of provisions to protect American resources and intellectual property from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries.

Funding for the Corps of Engineers totals $9.96 billion, including full funding of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund activities and the highest priority, ongoing Inland Waterways Trust Fund construction projects to ensure the safe and efficient flow of commerce.

Funding for the Bureau of Reclamation totals $1.93 billion, prioritized to projects that increase water supply and support drought resilience.

This is a strong bill that builds on the work we started in fiscal year 2024, and I urge Members to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.