Newhouse Votes to Advance Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to House Floor

Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

"As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, my focus remains on ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent in an effective, efficient manner," said Rep. Newhouse.

Newhouse continued, "This legislation increases funding for nuclear energy, expediting the deployment of small modular reactors, including the X-energy project in Richland. Of primary concern is funding for the Hanford cleanup mission and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which are both essential to the Tri-Cities and our region as a whole. While this package returns Hanford's funding to FY23 levels, it prioritizes the continued retrieval and immobilization of tank waste, supports cleanup milestones, and continues the momentum on vitrification. The appropriations process is a negotiation, and this mark is the first step in delivering legislation that reduces spending to the President's desk."

The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $58.5 billion, which is $461 million above the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. The defense portion of the allocation is $35 billion, and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $23.5 billion.

The bill prioritizes funding for agencies and programs that safeguard U.S. national security, unleash American energy dominance, and advance economic prosperity. Included are investments in hydropower, nuclear generation, and enhancements to grid security. The legislation also increases funding for the Bureau of Reclamation by over $200 million and provides $1.6 billion in additional funds for the National Nuclear Administration, which will strengthen our security capabilities against adversarial nations like China and Iran.

Rep. Newhouse's opening remarks can be found here(link is external).

The full committee markup can be viewed here(link is external).

Rep. Newhouse secured the following funding for a project in Central Washington.

Roza Irrigation District

Amount: $3,000,000

Description: This project would expand The Roza Irrigation District's Wasteway 6 reservoir from 150 acre-feet to approximately 700 acre-feet to better manage the significant flow fluctuations caused by its modern, high-efficiency piped delivery systems. The current reservoir is too small to handle these surges, requiring constant manual adjustments and risking the loss of unused water back into the Yakima River. By expanding the storage capacity of the reservoir, the district can protect critical water supplies and provide much-needed stability for growers who rely on water during periods of scarcity.