Fleischmann Remarks at FY25 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Bill Full Committee Markup
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present to the Committee the Fiscal Year 2025 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
I’d like to start by thanking Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership throughout this process. A special thanks to my dear friend and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water subcommittee, Marcy Kaptur, for her continued partnership.
I’d also like to extend my appreciation to all Members for their valuable input in helping to shape this bill. We received approximately 5,300 requests from Members and have worked to accommodate as many of these requests as possible within the overall priorities for the bill.
The FY25 Energy and Water bill reflects our continuing commitment to our national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness. The recommendation totals $59.2 billion, an increase of nearly $1 billion above fiscal year 2024 and a reduction of $139 million below the President’s budget request.
The bill delivers strong support for our national defense and provides $25.5 billion—an increase of $1.3 billion above FY24—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.
We continue our commitment to remediation of contaminated sites by funding Department of Energy and Corps of Engineers cleanup activities at a total of $8.5 billion.
The bill also advances our nation’s energy security, including $1.8 billion for the base Nuclear Energy programs. We also provide additional funding for nuclear demonstration projects specifically.
The Fossil Energy and Carbon Management account includes one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades. These investments are essential to secure our domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign sources.
This Energy and Water bill also strengthens our economic competitiveness.
The bill includes $9.96 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, including full funding of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund activities and the highest priority, ongoing Inland Waterways Trust Fund construction projects to ensure the safe flow of commerce.
Funding for the Bureau of Reclamation totals $1.93 billion, prioritized to projects that increase water supply and support drought resilience.
Within the funding for the Corps and Reclamation, the bill also includes a total of $899 million for Community Project Funding.
The bill continues support for scientific research, providing $8.4 billion for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, an increase of $150 million above fiscal year 2024, to ensure America remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation. Our national security and economic vitality are built upon our nation’s global scientific and technological leadership.
The bill includes provisions aimed at countering Biden Administration actions that would stifle the private sector and exacerbate inflation. The bill prohibits modifications to Corps of Engineers nationwide permits critical for oil and gas development and stops DOE’s mandate to phase out fossil fuel use at federal buildings. The bill also rejects the Biden Administration’s harmful pause on LNG exports by removing the Department of Energy’s role in the LNG export application review process—a position that has bipartisan support.
The bill also includes a number of provisions to protect American resources and intellectual property from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries.
Last but not least, I would like to thank staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work on this bill. On the majority side—Laura, Angie, Perry, Richie, and Angelina. In my personal office—Ian and Daniel. And on the minority staff—Scott, Jocelyn, and Adam.
This is a strong bill that builds on the work that we started in fiscal year 2024. I urge my colleagues to support it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
