Today, House Republicans will begin debate on H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024, which prioritizes funding to maintain strong national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness, while also reining in Extreme Democrats’ reckless spending.
This bill would terminate the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, returning control of waterways that historically have not fallen under federal jurisdiction to states. This bill also provides the necessary funding for the continued modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure, while eliminating billions in wasteful funding for unrelated Green New Deal policies.
FACTS ABOUT THE FY24 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL (Courtesy of House Appropriations Republicans):
Supports a strong national security by:
Providing $19.114 billion for the modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure;
Providing $1.946 billion for Naval Reactors to support the operational nuclear fleet, Columbia-class submarine reactor development, and research and development for current and future generations of nuclear-powered warships; and
Providing $2.38 billion for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation to reduce the danger of hostile nations or terrorist groups acquiring nuclear devices, radiological dispersal devices, weapons-usable material, and nuclear expertise.
Prioritizes energy security and economic competitiveness by:
Supporting domestic uranium enrichment capabilities, including high-assay low- enriched uranium (HALEU) availability, which is essential to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign uranium sources to power current and future commercial nuclear reactors;
Advancing small modular reactor and advanced reactor demonstration projects;
Providing more than $200 million for the production of critical minerals;
Requiring funds to be used by the Department of Energy (DOE) in a manner consistent with the research security provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act;
Prohibiting oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be sold to any entity owned by or under the control or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or to any other entity that intends to export to China; and
Investing in construction, operation, and maintenance of our nation’s ports and inland waterways to ensure goods can be moved safely to and from global markets.
Reins in wasteful Washington spending by:
Rescinding $5.58 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Eliminating funding for unrelated climate change activities in the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, including electric vehicle procurement and “climate cops” across the Corps.
Makes targeted reductions to applied energy programs that already received large amounts of funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the IRA.
Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve, a costly and unauthorized program established by the Obama Administration without congressional input, and prohibits the establishment of any new regional petroleum product reserves.
Rejects the President’s Budget Request for $35 million to start a new National Laboratory focused on multidisciplinary research in diverse communities.
Cuts more than $180 million for the Justice40 Initiative and prohibits funds to be used to implement the initiative at the Department of Energy.
FY24 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Allows the lawful carry of firearms at Corps of Engineers sites in a manner consistent with state law and existing federal law governing National Park Service locations.
Terminates the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, returning to state control of waterways that historically have not fallen under federal jurisdiction.
Provides regulatory certainty for water deliveries throughout California.
Prevents administrative overreach by prohibiting DOE from issuing onerous energy conservation standards on distribution transformers.
Prohibits the use of funds to promote or advance Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Prohibits the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Protects Americans against religious discrimination.
