H.R. 6938: Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor
Tom Cole
Republican · OK-4
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 23, 2026
Became Public Law No: 119-74.
This spending bill quietly shapes how agencies operate
Why it matters
This law keeps Justice, Energy, Interior, EPA, science, and water programs funded through September 30, 2026. Just as important, it gives a House explanatory statement the same practical weight as conference guidance for how money gets allocated across three major funding divisions.
H.R. 6938 is a fiscal year 2026 appropriations law covering three big buckets of government: Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment. In plain English, it is the legal vehicle that keeps those agencies and programs funded through September 30, 2026.
The biggest wrinkle is not a line-item number in the text excerpt. It is that the bill says a House explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record on or about January 7, 2026, will carry the same effect for allocating funds and implementing the law across Divisions A through C as a conference committee statement.
That matters because agencies often look to explanatory statements for the real operating instructions behind a spending bill. So even if a detail is not spelled out in the statutory text, this law tells agencies that the House guidance still counts when they decide how to distribute money.
The bill also sets a boundary rule: when a division says "this Act," it generally means only that division, not the whole package. That limits cross-application of restrictions and instructions between the three divisions.
What does H.R. 6938 do?
Federal operations stay funded through September 2026
The law provides fiscal year 2026 appropriations through September 30, 2026 for the agencies and programs covered in the package.
House spending guidance gets real operating weight
The bill says a House explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record on or about January 7, 2026 has the same effect for allocating funds and implementing Divisions A through C as conference guidance.
Three major funding bills are bundled together
The package combines Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment appropriations into one law.
Agency instructions stay inside each division
When the law refers to "this Act" inside one division, it generally applies only to that division unless the text clearly says otherwise.
Covers agencies from DOJ to EPA
The law includes funding titles for agencies and programs involving Commerce, Justice, science programs, the Corps of Engineers civil works mission, Energy, Interior, EPA, and related agencies.
Treasury provides the appropriated funds
The bill uses standard appropriations language drawing money from the Treasury for the fiscal year, but the excerpt does not list a single total dollar amount for the whole package.
Who benefits from H.R. 6938?
People who depend on federally funded public services
If you rely on federal prosecutions, science grants, dam and water projects, national park operations, or EPA-administered programs, this law helps keep those functions running during fiscal year 2026.
Agencies in the three covered divisions
Departments and programs in Commerce, Justice, science, Energy, water development, Interior, and environmental funding lines get a full-year appropriations vehicle through September 30, 2026.
Congressional appropriators and oversight staff
They get a formal mechanism for using explanatory statement language to steer how agencies allocate money, even when those directions are not fully spelled out in the bill text.
Contractors, grantees, and state and local partners
Organizations that work with these agencies benefit from funding continuity because annual appropriations laws help determine when grants, projects, and contracts can move forward.
Who is affected by H.R. 6938?
Agency budget and legal teams
They have to read both the statutory text and the House explanatory statement because the law says that statement carries the same effect as conference guidance for implementation.
Programs waiting on account-level direction
Specific priorities may depend less on the short statutory language and more on the explanatory statement that accompanies the law.
Advocates and watchdog groups
Anyone tracking spending choices will need to monitor not just H.R. 6938 itself, but also the explanatory statement that the law elevates for Divisions A through C.
Anyone expecting one rule to apply across the full package
This law says references to "this Act" usually stay within a single division, so a restriction in one division does not automatically carry over to the others.
What Congress Said
H.R. 6938 was signed into law on Jan 27, 2026.
Mr. President, I was unable to attend votes on January 15, 2026. Had I been able to attend, I would have continued to vote in favor of H.R. 6938, Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations on rollcall vote No. 10.
H.R. 6938 also appeared in 5 more House floor references, 87 more Senate floor references, and 20 routine cosponsor filings.
HR6938 Legislative Journey
Signed into Law
Jan 23, 2026
Became Public Law No: 119-74.
+3 more actions this day
Action Taken
Jan 22, 2026
Presented to President.
Passed 82-15
Jan 15, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 82 - 15. Record Vote Number: 11.
+5 more actions this day
Floor Action
Jan 14, 2026
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S185-218)
Vote: 141-143
Jan 13, 2026
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S141-143, S157)
Floor Action
Jan 12, 2026
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S121-128)
House: Passed 397-28
Jan 8, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 397 - 28 (Roll no. 7). (text: CR H151-199)
+18 more actions this day
House: Passed
Jan 7, 2026
Rule H. Res. 977 passed House.
+1 more action this day
House: Committee Action
Jan 6, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Tom Cole
Republican, Oklahoma's 4th congressional district · 23 years in Congress
Committees: Appropriations
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Budget Committee
0 of 37 committee members cosponsored at the time
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Appropriations Committee
0 of 62 committee members cosponsored at the time
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
What laws does H.R. 6938 change?
4 changes
Sections Amended
Section 9504(e) of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10364(e))
striking ``$920,000,000'' and inserting ``$1,000,000,000''
Section 9603(d) of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (43 U.S.C. 510b(d)) shall be repaid and deposited to that account. Sec. 209. (a) Section 10609(a)(1) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (subtitle B of title X of Public Law 111-11)-- (1)
striking ``$870,000,000'' and inserting ``$1,815,000,000''; and (2) shall be applied by substituting ``2026'' for ``2024''
Section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118-5. Sec. 312. Section 4(c)(10)(B) of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 839b(c)(10)(B))
striking the period at the end and inserting ``, adjusted for inflation
Section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118-5. bureau of land management actions regarding grazing on public lands Sec. 445. Paragraph (1) of section 122(a) of division E of Public Law 112-74 (125 Stat. 1013)
striking ``through 2024
H.R. 6938 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Budget
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Economics and Public Finance
- Introduced
- Jan 6, 2026
Became Public Law No: 119-74.
Jan 23, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill page with status, text, actions, and Public Law information for H.R. 6938.
Official published slip law version of the enacted appropriations act.
GovInfo collection for the Congressional Record, relevant because the bill gives practical effect to a House explanatory statement printed there.
Official Corps page for the civil works mission specifically named in the Energy and Water division.
Official EPA budget page relevant to the Interior-Environment division funded by the act.
Official Interior appropriations and budget materials for one of the core departments funded in the package.
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H.R. 6938 Common Questions
What does H.R. 6938 actually fund?
H.R. 6938 funds three major buckets for fiscal year 2026: Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment programs.
Is H.R. 6938 already law?
Yes. Congress.gov says H.R. 6938 became Public Law 119-74 on January 23, 2026.
How long does H.R. 6938 funding last?
It covers the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. After that, Congress would need new appropriations or another funding extension.
Why does the House explanatory statement matter so much here?
Because H.R. 6938 says that House statement should have the same effect as conference guidance for allocating funds and implementing the law across the three divisions.
Does H.R. 6938 include the Department of Justice and EPA?
Yes. The Department of Justice is in the Commerce-Justice-Science division, and EPA is in the Interior-Environment division.
Does this bill cover the Department of Energy and water projects?
Yes. H.R. 6938 includes Energy and Water funding, including the Department of Energy and the Corps of Engineers civil works mission.
When H.R. 6938 says 'this Act,' does it mean the whole law?
Usually no. In this law, that phrase generally applies only to the specific division where it appears unless the text clearly says otherwise.
Does the bill text show one total dollar amount?
Not in the excerpt provided. H.R. 6938 appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026, but the package-wide total is not listed here.
Based on H.R. 6938 bill text
H.R. 6938 Bill Text
“Making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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