U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) voted in favor of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation passed the House with a vote of 397-28.
“I came to Congress with one goal: delivering for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “I’m proud that this package does exactly that by funding local law enforcement to keep our communities safe, strengthening our economy, boosting American energy independence, building local infrastructure projects, and investing in the Army Corps of Engineers.”
Rep. Bresnahan announced $6,537,584 in community project funding for seven projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania. More details about each project will be provided later. The funded projects include:
– $1,250,000 for the Milford Borough Sewer Extension Project
– $500,000 for Scranton Police Department Equipment and Technology Upgrades
– $1,250,000 for Monroe County Wastewater Treatment Project
– $1,144,790 for Kingston Municipal Police Department Equipment and Technology Upgrades
– $372,415 for City of Wilkes-Barre Equipment Upgrades
– $1,020,379 for Monroe County DA Opioid Crimes Section
– $1,000,000 for Dallas Area Municipal Authority Wastewater Infrastructure Expansion
“This package sends over $6.5 million taxpayer dollars back home to NEPA,” Rep. Bresnahan continued. “The investment will support 7 projects across the district, from new security cameras to help the Scranton Police Department catch criminals to wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Monroe and Pike Counties. Every dollar is going directly where it belongs: our local communities.”
The appropriations act includes increased funding for several federal agencies and programs:
For Commerce, Justice and Science agencies:
– An increase of $63 million for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) aimed at combating fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
– Continued support against organized crime groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel.
– Support for research initiatives designed to counter China’s investments in technology development.
– DOJ grants supporting law enforcement efforts on opioids and related issues such as child exploitation prevention.
– A total of $10.514 billion allocated to the Department of Commerce.
– Funding increases also cover NOAA ($6.087 billion), Bureau of Industry and Security ($235 million), Interagency Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces ($300 million), DEA ($3.25 billion), Bureau of Prisons ($8.382 billion), and Office on Violence Against Women ($720 million).
In Energy and Water Development:
– Allocates $2.37 billion toward preventing nuclear weapons proliferation by hostile actors or terrorist groups.
– Prohibits crude oil sales from U.S reserves to entities linked with China’s government.
– Blocks financial assistance from DOE to foreign entities considered concerning.
– Increases investments in mining production technologies critical minerals extraction.
– Additional funds are directed at small modular reactor demonstration projects; NRC receives more resources to review new nuclear reactors.
– Army Corps of Engineers receives a total allocation of $10.435 billion including nearly $400 million towards inland waterways construction projects.
For Interior & Environment agencies:
– Increased funding supports domestic oil/gas development as well as wildland firefighter pay protection efforts.
– Expands upon previous opioid reduction programs under Trump Administration which had been discontinued under President Biden’s administration.
– Boosts funding at Bureau of Land Management by an additional $7.4 million specifically targeting onshore oil/gas development activities.
Other provisions include maintaining Republican-priority programs like Rural Water Technical Assistance.
Total allocations reach $14.54 billion for Department of Interior operations alongside a separate allocation providing over a billion dollars annually to institutions like Smithsonian.