This week, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, H.R. 6938, to fund certain federal agencies and critical government programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.  After bipartisan negotiations, the legislation passed this week increases spending above 2025 levels, a complete repudiation of President Trump’s budget request, which would have decimated housing programs and severely weakened many other critical initiatives that help address the cost-of-living crisis.  It also reasserts Congress’ power of the purse with instilling transparency and accountability requirements. 

“Keeping our government funded and functioning is a fundamental responsibility of Congress,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “For the past year, however, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have fought at every turn to eliminate funding for government programs that people across Texas’ Seventh Congressional District rely on.  I am pleased that, after months of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, we have come to a bipartisan agreement to reinstate funding for government programs that the administration gutted—a rebuke of DOGE and Republican efforts to eliminate critical funding. 

“Specifically, I am proud that my efforts to provide federal funding for natural disaster research and preparedness, to provide immigration court counsel, and to support emissions-reducing technology in the energy sector succeeded,” continued Congresswoman Fletcher.  “I will continue to do everything I can to fight back against the Trump administration’s and Congressional Republicans’ dangerous and harmful efforts and protect our community.”

Last year, Congresswoman Fletcher led an effort to reject President Trump’s attempt to gut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and instead fund it at a level of at least $656 million.   Following her advocacy, H.R. 6938 provides $588 million, 74 percent higher than President Trump’s budget request. 

Also last year, Congresswoman Fletcher spearheaded an effort to protect funding for the Legal Orientation Program (LOP), which the Trump administration attempted to terminate earlier this year and is currently being litigated in court.  The LOP is a critical program that contracts with nonprofit legal service organizations to assist detained individuals to make timely and informed decisions on immigration court procedures, educating people on their rights and improving the judicial efficiency of the immigration courts.  Following Congresswoman Fletcher’s advocacy, H.R. 6938 provides $27.5 million of her $28 million request for the Legal Orientation Program (LOP). 

And, last year, Congresswoman Fletcher led an effort to protect funding to support emissions-reducing technology in the energy sector.  Following Congresswoman Fletcher’s advocacy, H.R. 6938 provides $30 million for the Department of Energy’s Methane Mitigation Program, which is an improvement from President Trump’s budget request, which would have eliminated funding for this program.

Additionally, for FY 2026, H.R. 6938:

• Funds the Legal Services Corporation at $540 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Funds the Minority Business Development Agency at $50 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Funds the National Endowment for the Arts at $207 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Funds the National Endowment for the Humanities at $207 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Increases home energy efficiency for low-income residents across the country by providing $329 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the program in its entirety;
• Addresses high electricity costs and the cost-of-living crisis by providing $375 million for electric grid infrastructure;
• Invests in water infrastructure projects by providing $10.4 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an increase of $1.8 billion above the Fiscal Year 2025 level and $3.8 billion above the Trump administration’s budget request; 
• Protects people from violence and abuse and helps ensure domestic violence survivors have access to essential services by funding Violence Against Women Act grants by $7 million;
• Funds four crucial NOAA programs for coastal resilience and ecosystem health at $183 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the programs in their entirety;
• Funds the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants’ COPS Hiring Program Collaborative Reform Model at $5.5 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Funds the National Science Foundation’s STEM Education Account at $938 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety;
• Funds the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s STEM Education Account (NASA) at $143 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety; and
• Funds the Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board at $14 million, after President Trump and House Republicans attempted to eliminate the agency in its entirety.

For a summary of the Commerce, Justice, Science FY 2026 funding bill, click here.

For a summary of the Energy and Water Development FY 2026 funding bill, click here.

For a summary of the Interior and Environment FY 2026 funding bill, click here.