House floor consideration opens for H.R. 6938, FY2026 Interior and Environment appropriations bill
January 08, 2026 | Appropriations: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal
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An unnamed member of Congress opened consideration of H.R. 6938, the fiscal year 2026 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, saying the bill provides $38,600,000,000 in nondefense discretionary funding and reduces spending from fiscal year 2025 by $1,900,000,000.
The speaker said the bill responds to more than 8,000 member requests and directs $1,740,000,000 to 1,277 congressionally directed spending projects intended to improve clean and drinking water infrastructure. “This bill invests $1,740,000,000 in 1,277 community-funded projects,” the speaker said, summarizing the local-project component.
The speaker described the bill as fully funding mandatory “must pay” items, including Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to states and territories and payments to tribes for contract support costs and section 105(l) leases. He emphasized the bill’s commitments to tribal obligations, saying, “I refuse to balance this budget on the backs of our tribes,” and highlighted more than $8,000,000,000 directed to Indian Health Service programs.
According to the speaker, the bill trims spending across agencies—he said the Department of the Interior topline is reduced by nearly 2% and the Environmental Protection Agency funding is cut by nearly 4%—and includes “sensible cuts” across 28 bureaus and agencies as well as the closure of one agency described as having completed its mission. The speaker also said renewable energy funding is reduced by $34,000,000 and that the bill fully funds wildfire fighter pay to support wildland firefighters.
The speaker praised the Appropriations Committee’s work and bipartisan cooperation, thanked Chairman Cole and ranking members including Rep. Pingree and Rep. DeLauro, urged adoption of the measure and yielded back the balance of his time. The remarks were introductory to consideration on the House floor; no formal vote or motion on final passage is recorded in these segments.
The speaker said the bill responds to more than 8,000 member requests and directs $1,740,000,000 to 1,277 congressionally directed spending projects intended to improve clean and drinking water infrastructure. “This bill invests $1,740,000,000 in 1,277 community-funded projects,” the speaker said, summarizing the local-project component.
The speaker described the bill as fully funding mandatory “must pay” items, including Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to states and territories and payments to tribes for contract support costs and section 105(l) leases. He emphasized the bill’s commitments to tribal obligations, saying, “I refuse to balance this budget on the backs of our tribes,” and highlighted more than $8,000,000,000 directed to Indian Health Service programs.
According to the speaker, the bill trims spending across agencies—he said the Department of the Interior topline is reduced by nearly 2% and the Environmental Protection Agency funding is cut by nearly 4%—and includes “sensible cuts” across 28 bureaus and agencies as well as the closure of one agency described as having completed its mission. The speaker also said renewable energy funding is reduced by $34,000,000 and that the bill fully funds wildfire fighter pay to support wildland firefighters.
The speaker praised the Appropriations Committee’s work and bipartisan cooperation, thanked Chairman Cole and ranking members including Rep. Pingree and Rep. DeLauro, urged adoption of the measure and yielded back the balance of his time. The remarks were introductory to consideration on the House floor; no formal vote or motion on final passage is recorded in these segments.
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