ARLINGTON, Va. – Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) told the National Cleanup Workshop here on Wednesday he expects the Energy & Water Development bill for fiscal 2027 to pass during the so-called “lame duck” session after Congress returns following the November election.
Fleischmann, a member of the House Appropriation Committee, chairs the Energy & Water subcommittee and writes the appropriations bill for the Department of Energy and related agencies.
While a continuing resolution or stopgap spending measure has easily passed the House and Senate and will keep the government open through Dec. 11, Fleischmann thinks a full-year appropriations bill will be approved after the election.
Legacy nuclear cleanup at DOE sites such as Oak Ridge and elsewhere is a federal responsibility, Fleischmann said, adding “we will have decades of work ahead of us.”
The congressman said nuclear remediation is vital at DOE sites and cleanup milestones at Oak Ridge have helped ensure “the great state of Tennessee is ranked No.1 in new nuclear.”
Hitting a political note, Fleischmann reminded the hundreds of federal government and contractor representatives here that even if the GOP loses the election, he would be the “ranking member” or the top member of the minority party. Being “ranking member” is sometimes seen as “honorable mention,” he said, drawing laughter. Fleischmann said he can still “work and play well with others.”