Strong Votes to Restore American Energy Dominance
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Dale Strong, member of the Appropriations Committee, voted in support of H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026. This bill safeguards America’s national security, strengthens energy independence, and curbs wasteful government spending. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a 214 to 213 vote.
“This bill puts America first by lowering energy costs for hardworking Americans, strengthening our national security, prioritizing energy independence, and investing in our water infrastructure — all while protecting taxpayer dollars by focusing on core priorities for the people, not fringe climate programs and wasteful Biden-era slush funds,” said Representative Strong.
Once enacted, this legislation will provide funding for the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and other related agencies. It also includes funding for Civil Works programs of the USACE, the National Nuclear Security Administration, basic science and research programs organized within DOE, and the Bureau of Reclamation within DOI.
Key Highlights of the FY26 Energy and Water Appropriations Act:
Strengthening National Security
Invests $20.7 billion to modernize the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure.
Provides over $2 billion to support the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet.
Prohibits crude oil sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
Prevents procurement of technology or telecommunications equipment from adversarial nations like China.
Reaffirms free speech by prohibiting federal censorship efforts and ends funding for DEI and Critical Race Theory programs.
Restoring American Energy Dominance & Growing the Economy
Supports one of the largest investments in decades for critical mineral mining technologies, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
Increases funding for small modular reactors, advanced reactor demonstrations, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to help meet the Trump Administration’s goal of 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050.
Improves ports and waterways, supporting efficient transportation of goods and commodities.
Eliminating Wasteful Spending
Defunds the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
Defunds the Office of Energy Justice and Equity.
Refocuses applied energy technology programs on research and development that delivers real results for taxpayers.
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, is the third of 12 annual Appropriations bills to pass the House of Representatives.
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