WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) issued the following statement after the House passage of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.
“Every federal dollar saved helps drive down inflation and delivers real relief for hardworking Idahoans,” said Congressman Fulcher. “Today’s passage of H.R. 6938 keeps the House on track to advance all 12 Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills while saving taxpayer dollars by holding spending below Continuing Resolution levels.”
“This package achieves meaningful wins for the Gem State. It rolls back Biden-era regulations on farmers and livestock producers, promotes active land management to strengthen local economies and prevent wildfires, and defends Second Amendment rights by cutting funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This legislation also expands America’s energy portfolio to lower costs by investing in geothermal—a reliable, affordable power source in which Idaho has been a pioneer—and fully funds Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), a program our rural counties are forced to rely upon due to the immense federal land ownership in our state.”
Bill Background
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
- Reverses anti-Second Amendment overreach by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by significantly reducing overall funding by $40 million
- Maintains longstanding pro-life protections, including a prohibition on the use of DOJ funds to pay for an abortion
- Supports the critical NASA Artemis program to advance American leadership in space and counter the Chinese Communist Party’s malign ambitions
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
- Robustly funds small modular reactor and advanced reactor demonstration projects, as well as increases funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand capacity for the review, licensing, and oversight of new nuclear reactors
- Facilitates the efficient transport of goods and commodities through improvements and maintenance of America’s ports and waterways
- Increases investments to develop new baseload geothermal energy sources
- Encourages the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the repair of Albeni Falls Dam
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
- Fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which addresses budget shortfalls caused by nontaxable federal lands in 49 states, to support essential local services like education and public safety
- Ensures funding to support wildland firefighter pay to protect communities from catastrophic wildfires
- Increases funding for oil and gas development to unleash American energy
- Exempts farmers and livestock producers from burdensome greenhouse gas permitting and reporting requirements
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