As electricity prices outpace inflation, members of Congress and the administration have constituents’ bills on their mind, with Democrats hoping they will help them make the case against Trump administration policies.
Last week, the House passed the fiscal 2026 Energy-Water appropriations bill in a 214-213 vote. The bill would provide $57.3 billion for federal energy and water programs, including the nuclear defense programs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, much of the concern during floor debate was on how the measure would affect consumer energy bills.
Republicans said the provisions of the bill that increase investments in nuclear energy, fossil fuels and critical minerals would support the Trump administration’s goals for constantly running baseload power, while Democrats said spending cuts, such as a 47 percent reduction to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, would cede U.S. leadership on renewable energy sources as China continues to invest in the sector.
