Kaptur Fights For Better Energy and Water Funding Bill that Lowers Costs For American Families

Washington, DC — During today’s Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee markup of the 2027 funding bill, House Democrats exposed how the bill raises costs for American households, weakens our national security, and abandons communities cleaning up radioactive waste.

The legislation:

• Increases energy costs, jeopardizes energy independence, and hurts United States’ competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy’s Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation programs (formerly called Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) by 40 percent, revoking $2.8 Billion from the Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and cutting the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy by $50 Million.
• Weakens national security and leaves Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 12 percent.
• Abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by 10 percent.

From Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur’s (D-OH-09) opening remarks:

"US national security requires US energy security. The current bill before us must be adapted to better meet the growing energy challenges before our nation, and the cost of that energy to our people. Our citizenry is suffering from rising costs for everything, for transportation, for fuel, for heating, for electricity, and we as a country are still mired in the past. My strong view is that a bipartisan compromise can be crafted. First, there must be a revision in balances of top line funding between the defend the non-defense funding in this bill, which supports domestic energy and water programs versus defense funding. The most harmful cuts in this bill include a $1.3 Billion cut, or 40%, to critical materials and energy innovation. This bill must also be free of riders. Finally, the bill should include commonsense provisions providing transparency and accountability for how federal agencies spend the funds Congress provides. Unfortunately, until these changes are made, I must urge my colleagues to oppose the bill in its current form. Let's try to work together to improve it as it moves forward and meets the new age frontiers of energy and water."

From Appropriations Committee Ranking Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT-03) opening remarks:

“[This bill] raises energy costs for middle class, working families, and vulnerable Americans who struggle today to afford the basic necessities of everyday life. It threatens our national security by cutting funds used to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. And it exposes communities to radioactive waste, reducing funding used to control and clean up hazardous nuclear sites throughout the country. American families are struggling to keep up with rising costs today, living paycheck to paycheck. One of the central factors driving the cost-of-living crisis is the rising cost of energy. Utility bills keep going up, and instead of providing relief, Republicans’ plan is to cut back on programs that support our energy independence, increase energy supply, and help drive costs down. At a time when Americans are struggling to navigate rapidly rising costs; when our adversaries are increasing their investments in the technologies of the future; and when our communities remain burdened by the hazardous remnants of our atomic weapons program; this bill fails to meet that moment.”

A summary of the bill is here. A fact sheet is here. The text of the bill is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

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