The Senate Thursday passed a minibus bill 82-15 that includes appropriations for Energy and Water development, that provides funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Energy.
The Office of Management and Budget issued a statement of support for the minibus, indicating President Donald Trump will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
“This package saves a key program to save families on their energy bills, sustains our investments in scientific research, and protects essential funding for our public lands and Tribes, among so much else,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of both the full Senate Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, said in a statement Thursday. “Passing these bills reasserts Congress’ power of the purse and will prevent this administration from having the legal authority to decide for itself how to spend these taxpayer funds again.”
The bill was released by top appropriators in the Senate and House last week on both sides of the aisle, and was passed 397-28 in the House Jan. 8. Congress has until Jan. 30 to either get all twelve spending plans passed or pass another stopgap spending bill, lest the government shut down again due to a lapse in funding.
In the minibus package, the Office of Nuclear Energy’s $1.8 million, which is $100 million above fiscal 2025 enacted level, focuses heavily on its Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability program and “repurposes previously appropriated funds to accelerate advanced reactor and small modular reactor demonstration projects,” according to an Energy and Water bill summary.
Under the general provisions for DOE, $3.1 billion is allocated to support its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and small modular reactors.
“The FY 2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill delivers real results for Louisianans and the American people by reducing waste, strengthening our nation’s energy and nuclear security, and providing real flood protection,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), Chair of the Senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee. “I’m proud this bill is becoming law.”
The bill proposes $952.7 million for NRC in its fiscal 2026 budget. According to the bill, NRC is estimated to collect $804.5 million through revenues from licensing fees, inspection services and other services in fiscal 2026. While its net budget authority is to be $148.1 million.
“That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced by the amount of revenues received during fiscal year 2026 so as to result in a final fiscal year 2026 appropriation estimated at not more than $148,190,023,” according to the bill.
Through the Energy and Water bill, $4 million was included for the Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center Upgrades Project through Rep. Mike Simpson’s (R-Idaho) request in the Community Project Funding.
The Idaho Accelerator Center, located in Pocatello, Idaho, operates particle accelerators for the DOE and other national laboratory research ambitions in nuclear science, new reactor designs and production of medical isotopes, according to Simpson’s Wednesday press release.