Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to advance a three-bill funding package covering commerce, justice, energy, space, and environmental programs after bipartisan negotiations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House of Representatives on Jan. 8 overwhelmingly approved a three-bill spending package to fund a wide range of federal agencies, sending the legislation to the Senate, where passage is expected.
The package cleared the House by a 397–28 vote and reflects months of negotiations among senior appropriators from both parties in the House and Senate.
The first measure provides $11.1 billion for the Department of Commerce, $744 million more than the previous fiscal year and $2.4 billion above the Trump administration’s request. It also allocates $37 billion for the Department of Justice, an increase of $148 million from fiscal year 2025 and $1.7 billion above the administration’s proposal. NASA would receive $24.4 billion under the bill, $5.6 billion more than requested by the administration.
The second bill sets aside $1.7 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, $360 million above the administration’s fiscal year 2026 request. It also includes $50.8 billion for the Department of Energy, representing a $644 million increase over fiscal year 2025 funding and $4.1 billion above the administration’s request.
The third bill allocates $42.56 billion for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies, including $8.82 billion specifically for the EPA.
The funding package was released on Jan. 5 and reflects what House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma described as a committee-driven process. “Developed through committee-led negotiations and thoughtful deliberation, this package demonstrates how an accountable process produces strong policy,” Cole said in a statement posted on X. He added that the legislation turns priorities into action and “puts America first.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised the agreement, calling it a bipartisan and bicameral step toward completing fiscal year 2026 funding. Johnson said the package invests in public safety, affordable and reliable energy, and responsible management of resources, while also supporting community projects, water infrastructure, ports, and flood control.
In the Senate, Democratic Appropriations Chair Patty Murray of Washington said the package helps prevent cuts proposed by the Trump administration. In a statement, Murray said the bills ensure that Congress, rather than the White House, directs how taxpayer dollars are spent by providing detailed spending directives and reasserting congressional authority.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said the legislation removes what she described as Republican “poison pills” and reinforces Congress’s constitutional power over federal spending. In a statement, DeLauro said the package replaces short-term funding measures with full-year appropriations that impose precise, legally binding requirements on the executive branch.
With House approval secured, the spending package now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Original article
Comments