WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Defense; Homeland; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations legislation, marking the House of Representatives’ completion of all 12 annual spending bills for Fiscal Year 2026.
Congressman Fulcher said, “Today marks a major step toward restoring regular order in Congress. With this passage, the House has finalized all 12 Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations the way they are intended to be—through the committee process and with member-led direction. This legislation invests in training workers and students in rural communities to strengthen America’s skilled workforce, prioritizes the safety and efficiency of our transportation infrastructure, and ensures law enforcement agencies have the training, personnel, and resources to safeguard the American people from nation-state adversaries.”
Bill Background
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
- Maintains the longstanding Dickey Amendment to ensure federal funds cannot be used to advocate or promote restricting Second Amendment rights.
- Prioritizes primary care funding for rural health, health centers, and the health workforce to end the chronic disease epidemic.
- Ensures prescription drug savings are passed to patients.
- Increases funding to train workers and educate students in rural America.
- Protects the right to life by maintaining the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion on demand.
Defense Appropriations Act:
- Provides a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers.
- Enhances investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft, including the F-35, F-47, and F/A-XX.
- Boosts production of munitions critical to winning conflicts with pacing adversaries like China.
- Allocates resources for missile defense and space programs to augment and integrate in support of the Golden Dome effort.
Homeland Security Appropriations Act:
- Enhances resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities.
- Partners with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
- Protects vulnerable children by strengthening exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor investigations.
- Bolsters disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
- Codifies DOGE recommendations to reduce the federal bureaucracy of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) agencies by 29%.
- Increases funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a top Trump Administration priority, which will keep our skies safe and help build a world-class air traffic control system.
- Upholds America First priorities by guaranteeing that the U.S. has the most modern, safe, and efficient transportation system in the world.
- Maintains “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.
###