Contact Congress about H.R. 6938: Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
This bill keeps major federal agencies funded for the 2026 budget year. It also adds spending rules that affect public safety grants, water projects, wildfire work, public lands, and some environmental rules.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 is signed into law. The latest recorded action: Became Public Law No: 119-74.
Latest action on H.R. 6938: Became Public Law No: 119-74.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, grant recipients, contractors, and communities that depend on funded programs. It also matters for people who rely on weather forecasts, law enforcement services, victim services, parks, water systems, wildfire response, and environmental programs.
Why this matters: This bill matters because it decides how major federal services get funded in 2026. It affects weather forecasts, federal courts and prisons, public safety grants, water projects, parks, wildfire work, and environmental programs. It also uses spending rules to steer agency choices for the year. Some of those rules may speed up work, slow down rules, or shift money away from earlier plans.
Key provisions in H.R. 6938
- The bill funds the Department of Commerce and many of its offices. These include trade, export controls, economic development, minority business programs, the Census Bureau, NTIA, USPTO, NIST, and NOAA, with some money lasting more than one year for research, construction, and large projects.
- USPTO, the Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Trustee Program would mostly pay for themselves with fees. The bill lowers regular taxpayer funding so the net taxpayer cost is expected to be zero for those accounts.
- NOAA gets money for operations and major purchases that can last for several years. This covers satellites, ships, and buildings, and sets total cost caps for several large satellite programs.
- The Justice Department gets money for major offices and grants. This includes immigration courts, U.S. Attorneys, the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, federal prisons, and state and local grants such as Byrne JAG, opioid work, reentry, and crime victim services.
- Federal prisons must use at least $409 million for First Step Act programs and activities. Part of that money must go to the National Institute of Justice for an independent review.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 6938
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 6938
- What is H.R. 6938?
- This bill keeps major federal agencies funded for the 2026 budget year. It also adds spending rules that affect public safety grants, water projects, wildfire work, public lands, and some environmental rules.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 6938?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 6938?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 6938 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
