Fleischmann Remarks at FY24 2024 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill Full Committee Markup

Hearing

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present to the Committee the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

First, I'd like to thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership on this bill. I'd like to especially thank my Ranking Member, Ms. Kaptur, for being a tremendous partner throughout this year's process.

I thank all Members for their input and requests for this bill. We received almost 5,000 Member requests and worked hard to be as accommodating as possible within the overall priorities of the bill.

The recommendation totals just under $58 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion above fiscal year 2023 and a reduction of $2 billion below the President's Budget Request.

The defense allocation is $32.5 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion above last year.

The effective non-defense allocation is $25.5 billion, an increase of $143 million above fiscal year 2023 and a reduction of $1.6 billion below the President's Budget Request. The non-defense spending is composed of the 302(b) allocation of $19.9 billion and the reprioritization of $5.6 billion in unobligated funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Energy and Water bill is critical for our national security, our energy security, and our economic competitiveness.

The bill includes $24 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Within that, the bill fully funds all major weapons and infrastructure modernization activities, including the W-93 warhead, the nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile, the B83-1 gravity bomb, and the restart of plutonium pit production capability. NNSA funding also supports Naval Reactors and Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.

Remaining a leader in nuclear energy technologies will ensure reliable energy here at home and will help allies around the globe. The recommendation includes $1.78 billion for the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy base program. It also redirects a total of $3.6 billion in previously appropriated funds to higher priorities. Specifically:

$2.4 billion to develop a domestic capability for producing low enriched uranium, including high-assay low enriched uranium that will be necessary for upcoming advanced reactors; and

$1.2 billion to support the ongoing advanced small modular reactor demonstration project.

To reduce our reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, the bill provides more than $200 million for the full spectrum of production technologies.

The Army Corps of Engineers is funded at $9.57 billion, including full funding of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund activities and ongoing Inland Waterways Trust Fund construction projects. These investments will help ensure goods can be moved safely to and from global markets.

Funding for the Bureau of Reclamation totals $1.8 billion and prioritizes projects that increase water supply and support drought response.

For both the Corps and Reclamation, Members again were able to influence funding priorities by making Community Project Funding requests. This year, the bill includes a total of $945 million for these projects.

The bill continues strong funding for the DOE Office of Science, including fusion energy science, to enhance America's role as the global leader of scientific discovery and to lay the foundation for future scientific breakthroughs.

In closing, I would like to would like to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work throughout this process. On the majority staff -- Angie, Perry, Nora, Richie, Scott, and Janet. In my personal office -- Ian and Daniel. And on the minority staff -- Scott, Jocelyn, and Adam.

This is a strong bill, and I urge Members to support it. Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield back.

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