Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro and Chairman Cole for their work in bringing this bipartisan package to the floor. I especially thank Ranking Member Pingree and Chair Simpson. I serve on the subcommittee with them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation that secures funding for public safety, public infrastructure, public lands and, yes, public health. This bill will help reassert Congress' Article I power of the purse and provide clear funding direction to this administration.

I want to highlight how this bill maintains funding to our trust and treaty responsibilities to Indian Country. It continues to support education, healthcare, public safety, and human services for our Native American brothers and sisters.

This bill maintains Indian Health Service advanced appropriations, which is targeted for elimination by President Trump's budget. I thank the leaders for their work on making this part of the bill. The Tribal leaders fought hard to establish this advanced appropriations security, and I am glad it is included. I am so proud of our bipartisan ranking members working hard to get this provision and this bill across the line.

I am pleased this bill includes nearly $9 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a significant increase over the House position and twice that of what the White House had proposed for the EPA.

This bill also fully funds the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities at $207 million each. This bill, as has been pointed out, rejects all the poison pill riders.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this appropriations bill.

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