United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development is a standing subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Appropriations. It is responsible for drafting annual appropriations bill funding for federal agencies and programs related to energy security, water resources, and nuclear weapons. The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes the United States Department of Energy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and key elements of the Department of Defense related to atomic energy defense activities.

Jurisdiction

The subcommittee holds jurisdiction over the annual Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. This legislation provides funding for civilian and defense activities within the United States Department of Energy, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of Science, and the Office of Environmental Management. It also funds critical water infrastructure projects managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water resource management in the Western United States. Additional responsibilities include funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority.

Membership

For the 118th United States Congress, the subcommittee is chaired by Representative Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, with Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio serving as the Ranking Member. The Republican majority members include John Moolenaar of Michigan, Mike Simpson of Idaho, and Jake LaTurner of Kansas. The Democratic minority members are Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Henry Cuellar of Texas, and Chellie Pingree of Maine. Membership is determined by the House Committee on Appropriations and reflects the partisan balance of the United States House of Representatives.

History

The subcommittee was established following the reorganization of the United States House Committee on Appropriations in the post-World War II era, consolidating jurisdiction over growing federal investments in atomic energy and water projects. Its precursor committees handled funding for the Manhattan Project and early United States Atomic Energy Commission activities. Significant historical legislation crafted by the subcommittee includes funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative during the Cold War, the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, and major initiatives like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which allocated billions for clean energy projects. The subcommittee has frequently been at the center of debates over nuclear nonproliferation, climate change research, and drought response in states like California.

Legislative activity

The subcommittee conducts hearings, marks up its annual appropriations bill, and oversees the execution of funded programs. Recent legislative focus has included modernizing the United States nuclear arsenal through programs like the W93 warhead and Columbia-class submarine, investing in renewable energy research at National Laboratories such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and funding for port and inland waterway maintenance by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The subcommittee also allocates funds for water desalination research, hydropower improvements, and the cleanup of former nuclear sites like the Hanford Site in Washington. Its work is often subject to intense negotiation with the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

See also

* United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development * United States Department of Energy * United States Army Corps of Engineers * Bureau of Reclamation * National Nuclear Security Administration * Appropriations bill (United States)

Category:United States House of Representatives appropriations subcommittees Category:Energy in the United States Category:Water in the United States